The educational system has undergone a paradigm shift since its inception many years ago. Students used to have to go to the library and open large books to find the information they needed. In the twentieth century, thousands of results for the same things they need could be found in a fraction of a second. Technology has truly advanced and is still evolving.
Computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets have all become indispensable in today’s world. These are no longer just for entertainment. They are now widely used in our educational system. The power and importance of technology in education are more evident than ever, as Filipino students require access to education even during times of crisis.
Technology has advanced to the point where it now drives business growth. As a result, businesses use this to improve their performance by hiring tech-savvy candidates who can contribute to their businesses. In accordance with this, school is an excellent training ground for future professionals. It can assist these children by incorporating technology into their system via materials, facilities, rooms, and even modules. On the other hand, today’s children are digital natives. Using technology for their daily studies can benefit them more than it can harm them.
This has been the advocacy of the Philippines’ leading telecom and non-profit organisation, ensuring that no learner is left behind in their pursuit of achieving their dreams and being the best they can be in the future. And to support this advocacy, Philippine’s network solution and provider, joined hands and pledged support to reach last-mile schools starting with the portable digital classroom, ‘School-in-a-Bag’ turnover. The network provider had donated 17 Smart School-in-a-Bags to the organisation. These contributions will benefit the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Last Mile School Programme.
The School-in-a-Bag is intended to provide schools in remote areas with access to technology, connectivity, content, and disaster-resilient pedagogy. Each water-resistant backpack contains a laptop and pocket WiFi for teachers, as well as ten tablets pre-loaded with interactive, multimedia content that can be accessed even when the backpack is not in use. Since its launch in 2016, around 300 bags have been deployed, benefiting over 83,000 students and more than 4,000 teachers in last-mile communities.
The President of the telecom provider expressed her gratitude to the network company for their generous support. “We are thankful for our partners who share our vision in ensuring that no learner is left behind amid the pandemic. These 17 School-in-a-bag donations will truly go a long way and will reach far-flung communities that are most in need,” she stated.
OpenGov Asia earlier reported that the Department of Education (DepEd) would ensure learning continuity for millions of Filipinos as they implement different learning modalities created in support of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
More than a year since implementing community quarantines and safety protocols, blended, distance learning remains the new normal in the Philippines’ education sector. This hybrid approach is deemed crucial for ensuring that learning continues uninterrupted in the midst of the current global health crisis.
Technical skills can be honed using these advanced tools. More importantly, it instils learning as a life skill. Technology must be used to engage students in the joy of learning new things. It must assist them in exploring topics of interest to them. Furthermore, it must provide limitless learning opportunities to fully equip them for the future.
In contrast, most industries will soon be reliant on digital technology. The interactive approach of educational technology encourages students to acquire digital skills, which are necessary for success in the labour market.
