President Rodrigo Duterte remains solid on his ‘no vaccine, no school’ stand as he addressed the nation yesterday amid the coronavirus pandemic. In line with this, the local government of Manila is reportedly buying Php 994 million worth of laptops and tablets.
These gadgets will be used by public schools to be able to conduct online classes as we abide by the safety precautions that come with facing the threat of COVID-19. Practicing social distancing at all times will prevent the spread of the killer virus and the alternative mode of learning lets students proceed with their education while avoiding mass gatherings.
According to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s Facebook live last night, students from Kinder to Grade 12 will reportedly be lent 110,000 tablets. Teachers, on the other hand, will be lent 11,000 laptops.
https://www.facebook.com/iskomorenodomagoso/videos/964845783947500/?v=964845783947500
Each of the 91,000 households in Manila City whose child/children is/are enrolled in public schools is said to receive a tablet. They even allocated contingency tablets for families who might need to transfer theirs from private schools. Each of the tablets also comes with a sim card to provide for data usage of those without Wi-Fi.
Meanwhile, the laptops which also have a loaded pocket Wi-Fi provided for each unit also give room for additional teachers who might be needed as the number of students increases. This even opens up job opportunities in the city as some workers have been laid off during the pandemic crisis.
The budget was said to be built on collapsing programs that will not be essential in the new learning system implemented due to the GCQ guidelines. “Nakapaghanap po tayo ng pondo para mapatupad natin ‘yung bagong pamamaraan na itinakda ng DepEd [Department of Education].”
“Walang tosgas na ang mga magulang,” he adds as parents or guardians will not be needing the usual school supplies every school year.
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