A measure has been filed in the Senate seeking to provide one tablet or a similar gadget to each student in all public schools and state universities to allow them to effectively participate in online learning.
In filing Senate Bill 2454, Sen. Nancy Binay said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need to make the internet more accessible by strengthening connectivity and making digital devices and software more accessible to students and teachers.
Binay cited a 2020 World Bank Report which found that nearly 60% of households in the Philippines do not have internet access, which means they could not reap the benefits of digitalization.
"In line with the state's mandate to provide quality education at all levels, this bill seeks to aid students enrolled in public schools and SUCs by giving them tablets or similar learning devices," Binay said.
Under the measure, the "One Tablet, One Student" program will be established to provide each public elementary and secondary students as well as students enrolled in state universities and colleges a tablet computer to aid in their online learning.
Those who have their own personal learning gadgets will be given educational assistance in the form of internet allowance to cover the cost of connectivity.
The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are tasked under the bill to implement the "One Tablet, One Student" program.
Last year, the City of Manila handed out tablet computers to students and teachers to help them proceed with lessons in a distance learning setup.
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