Angara bill would bring computers to all schools

SEN. JUAN Edgardo Angara has filed a bill seeking a long term and sustainable modernization program for the public schools.

Senate Bill No. 198, at a minimum, would provide every public elementary and high school throughout the country with a computer laboratory equipped with at least 10 computers.

Angara said his measure proposes that two of the 10 computers be connected to the Internet “to further assist the students with their research.”

“As I have repeatedly emphasized, the next big frontier for education is the Internet, that is why we have to be prepared to take advantage (of it).”

He said that while the primary goal of education had not changed despite the new technology, the challenge for everyone remained the same, and that is to make students love learning on their own.

“What better way than to open their horizons virtually,” he said.

Angara said the Department of Education had reported that only half of the 4,336 high schools nationwide had computer laboratories, with most of them needing repairs or upgrading.

To finance the modernization of all the public schools, Angara’s bill proposes the creation of a School Modernization and Innovation Trust Fund to augment the appropriations provided in the national budget.

“This is the opportune time for the government to seriously consider ways of increasing the share of the budget devoted to the computerization of schools and upgrading of libraries and science laboratories,” Angara said.

“The application of information technology to classroom instruction would increase efficiency in the teaching and learning processes and enhance student competencies,” he added.

SB 198 also proposes the implementation of an integrated distance-learning program that would allow students from domestic and foreign private schools to engage in an exchange of knowledge and expertise in the areas of Science and Technology, Mathematics, and English and Communication via television or satellite communication.

Angara said this would also allow public school teachers to learn the latest innovative trends in education to improve their teaching techniques.

“We must encourage the schools to become more innovative and resourceful in developing and implementing programs geared toward modernization,” he said.

Norman Bordadora