Press Release
October 20, 2009

ANGARA AND STI TO BRING MOBILE I.T. SCHOOLS TO COMMUNITIES

Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Eusebio Tanco, Executive Committee Chairman of STI, are collaborating to fight I.T. illiteracy in schools across the country by bringing mobile computer classrooms to elementary and high schools that have no computer laboratories and internet access.

"This alternative training experience will enhance ICT learning in the country by solving two of the biggest problems in computer teaching: the shortage of personal computers and the lack of internet access especially in public schools," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "To meet the ICT challenge, we must be creative and pro-active in our efforts. We must each out to unprivileged students in the farthest communities, and formulate a viable, comprehensive and sustainable long-term computerization plan for schools especially at the elementary and secondary levels."

Angara, former chairman of the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM), said that given the scarce resources of the national government, there is a need to be more cost-effective and innovative in our approach to finance school modernization programs. This can be achieved through active partnerships with local government units and the private sector such as foundations private corporations and business groups.

"The era of globalization has placed extreme pressure on government to produce highly specialized and technical manpower. Given the rapid changes and developments in the field of Information Technology and the emergence of a knowledge-based society, the Philippines has to reorient its educational system to meet the growing needs and demands of a highly competitive world market," he said.

Angara expressed deep concern that students in public schools have been left behind by their counterparts in the private schools. Based on preliminary report of Department of Education (DepEd), only 50% of the 4336 high schools nationwide have computer laboratories. But most of them need to be repaired or upgraded because after these computers have been delivered to schools, they have not been properly maintained. A computer laboratory consists of a minimum of 10 computers.

The mobile computer classroom is a modified Isuzu 50 seater bus equipped with 24 computers and wireless internet connection as well as training materials developed by STI.

Angara also authored SB 915 which seeks to establish the School Modernization and Innovation Trust Fund. It will finance the priority programs for school modernization and improvement of public elementary and secondary schools.

"It is high time for government to actively seek ways to modernize our schools, upgrade libraries and improve science laboratories. The application of ICT in classroom instruction would increase efficiency in teaching and learning, and enhance our students' competencies," said Angara.

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