CEBU CITY – The Department of Education faces a tough challenge in implementing its information and communications technology (ICT) road map.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus on Sept. 10 said he expected to have a tough time convincing members of the House of Representatives of the need for a special budget of P2 billion for the five-year Information and Communications Technology for Education (ICT4E) strategic plan.

New item

Lapus explained that the P2 billion was a new item in the DepEd budget so he has to explain its importance to the congressmen during a hearing on the budget set recently.

“I heard that the amount (P2 billion) is being cut,” he said during a press conference held here after the opening ceremony of the 3rd National ICTS in Basic Education Congress in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The proposed P2-billion budget would finance the first year implementation of the ICT4E strategic plan in 2009, Lapus said.

He also said that the budgetary requirement for the five-year plan would increase in the succeeding years.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Lapus said the DepEd is in the final stages of completing the road map.

The plan, he said, would build on earlier ICT strategies developed by the department with assistance from other stakeholders such as the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (Fit-Ed). Fit-Ed is a private, nonprofit organization advocating sustainable and responsible integration of ICT in local education.

Private sector role

Lapus also recognized the role of the private sector, which has helped in efforts in promoting ICT in the country’s educational system.

He said companies such as Oracle, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Smart Communications Inc. and Gilas, has helped promote ICT in the country’s public schools.

The road map, which is expected to be completed by October, aims to provide “21st Century Education for All Filipinos, Anytime, Anywhere,” Lapus said.

“This means an ICT-enabled education system that transforms our children into dynamic life-long learners and values-centered, responsible citizens,” he told the congress participants, composed mostly of teachers.

5-year activity

The program calls for the use of ICT to revitalize the public schools, link learners to global resources, enable learners to seek and analyze information, create new knowledge and products and develop habits of self-learning.

To achieve the learner-centered ICT4E, the DepEd would undertake several activities in the next five years, Lapus added.

These activities include the integration of ICT into the curriculum, more competency-based development programs, establishment of necessary infrastructure and setting up processes and systems for governance and management.

The proposed P2 billion for the ICT4E would finance acquisition of hardware and software as well as training of teachers, he said.

Aside from the task of convincing lawmakers to approve the budget needed for the program, Lapus said the department also has to work on changing the mindset of all concerned, from the government’s top officials, the Congress and the local government officials.

However, he said some local government units have already recognized the importance of providing funds for ICT in education.

Lapus said these LGUs have allocated part of its special education fund for the ICT development in the public schools in their areas.

Although the road map has yet to be completed, he noted that the efforts to promote ICT-enabled education have started.

But the strategic plan would set specific goals and identify what needs to be done for a cohesive action in promoting ICT in education, Lapus said.

Coordination

“For far too long, we work in parallel, and sometimes even in cross purposes, in our efforts to harness the power of ICT in education,” he pointed out.

Lapus noted that the various efforts on behalf of ICT failed to meet the challenge of the times.

While there were successful pilot projects, he said, these were never replicated nationally and eventually fold up when external funding ends.

“With this plan, we now have the opportunity to bring our collective strength together, work hand in glove, and even achieve synergy,” Lapus said.