DepEd takes charge of Global Filipino Schools program

(From left to right) Globe chief sustainability officer Yoly Crisanto; Department of Education assistant secretary GH Ambat; DepEd undersecretary Atty. Tonisito Umali; and head of Globe Citizenship Miguel Bermundo. / Photo from Department of Education

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) will now be in charge of the Global Filipino Schools (GSF) program previously managed by Globe Telecom.

Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said the turnover is a step to change the framework in education and align this with the rest of the world.

“We need to have a change in mindset—a change in framework in teaching, learning, doing curriculum, and delivering modules to our children,” Umali said in a statement on Thursday.

“We should be at par with what is going on in the whole world. Ang mindset ay dapat patungo sa 21st century classroom,” he added.

The GSF program launched in 2012 was designed to advance 21st-century learning principles and information and communications technology (ICT) integration in public schools nationwide.

The program package includes free internet connectivity and tools like tablets, projectors, virtual reality (VR) goggles, casting dongles, Home Prepaid Wi-Fi Modems and mobile phones.

Meanwhile, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer Ma. Yolanda Crisanto said she believes the turnover of GSF program’s management to DepEd will open opportunities for more public schools to incorporate technology in its education.

“With GFS now under DepEd, we hope to open doors for more public schools to experience education that is not limited to the four corners of the classroom and not bounded by physical textbooks or paper and pen so that borderless learning can take place,” said Crisanto in the same statement.

DepEd said the program is implemented in 218 public schools in 202 divisions across the country and has benefitted 331,241 students and 11,666 teachers.

The GSF program was turned over to DepEd by Globe Telecom in a culminating gathering at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan last March 29. /muf

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