MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City government has assured its 2,500 public school teachers of a laptop provision for the incoming school year’s shift to distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Abby Binay said all public school teachers in the elementary, junior, and senior high school will receive a brand new laptop to ensure they are well-equipped and well-prepared for online classes.
She said they are looking to finish distributing all the laptops by October, in time for the World Teachers’ Day.
“As the education system shifts to the new normal, teachers also have to adapt to the changes. The city government has anticipated their primary needs and will thus be providing them with laptops to ensure that they can promptly prepare their digitized lessons and conduct online classes,” Binay said in a statement.
“No one shall be left behind, whether in teaching or in learning. We must support teachers and students alike. As I have previously announced, the city will provide free internet access for teachers and students for their online sessions and activities,” she added.
Before the start of the school year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that face-to-face classes would not be allowed to prevent localized coronavirus transmissions. According to the Department of Education, physical attendance would only be required once a vaccine becomes available.
READ: DepEd postpones in-person classes
READ: No face to face classes until COVID-19 vaccine is available — DepEd
Last June, Binay also announced that 85,000 public school students will get free internet load and a learner’s package from the city government, aside from the usual benefits they receive.
The learner’s package contains a flash drive, printed modules, and two washable face masks.
READ: 85K students to get free internet load, learner’s package from Makati gov’t
During enrollment, some groups lamented that the government has not yet made online education accessible for all. Meanwhile, school registration rates dropped drastically as some parents opted not to enroll their children.
However, the government assured that programs are in place to ensure that students will get the proper education despite pandemic. President Rodrigo Duterte no less has vowed to purchase transistor radios so even students living in far-flung areas can attend non-face-to-face classes.
READ: Student group warns of more drop-outs over lack of distance learning devices
READ: Duterte asks for patience as gov’t scrambles to buy distance learning gadgets