CEBU SCHOOLS GET ‘SIAB’ PACKAGES FROM PLDT GROUP, FIBERHOME TECH
THE School-in-a-Bag (Siab) of PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has continued to reach far-flung schools as face-to-face classes resume in the province of Cebu.
In partnership with PLDT and Smart Foundation Inc. (PSF) and FiberHome Technologies, PLDT and Smart recently turned over Siab packages to Cabagdalan Elementary School in Balamban, Mahanlud Elementary School in Malabuyoc, and Basak Elementary School in Samboan. These schools were among the pilot schools in the province to implement the limited face-to-face classes in November 2021, and were impacted by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai) before the end of 2021.
“We are happy to extend this blessing to these schools as this package will provide our teachers and students access to technology and connectivity, and help facilitate learning for quality basic education,” said Catherine Yap-Yang, first vice president, PLDT and Smart Group Corporate Communications.
Underscoring PLDT and Smart’s #NoLearnerLeftBehind advocacy, the School-In-A-Bag aims to promote inclusive education by enhancing learning in remote communities with the help of technology.
Smart’s Siab carries a laptop, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket WiFi with load allocation, ten tablets, a teacher’s guide, and digital learning resources for elementary students. To make learning more engaging, the technology-based learning package has digital educational materials such as contextualized Learning Activity Sheets and 10 #LearnSmart apps that teach literacy and numeracy in the mother tongue.
Being situated in far-flung communities, both students and teachers share the same inevitable struggles as they need to pass through mountain streams and rough roads before reaching their school. Apart from the Covid-19 pandemic, these schools also faced challenges posed by Typhoon Odette.
“As we aspire for improved learning, we need all the help we can get from public or private institutions, such as Smart, for us to keep going. We are truly fortunate, for even at times like this, we always feel their support, especially in helping us provide quality basic education to our students,” said Enrico Iran, head of Mahanlud Elementary School.
These efforts also underscore PLDT and Smart’s commitment to help the Philippines achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 on inclusive quality education.