IBM, DepEd sign accord on rehab of 38 Metro schools

MANILA, Philippines - Tech giant IBM and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed recently a memorandum of understanding for the rehabilitation of 38 elementary schools in Metro Manila whose learning facilities were destroyed by typhoon Ondoy.

Through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program, IBM Philippines will provide 40 units of KidSmart Young Explorer computers to identified public schools in Marikina, Pasig and Quezon City.

IBM’s KidSmart Early Learning Program also includes training for the teachers and ICT schools coordinators on the use of the units and its software programs.

“Through the Adopt-A-School Program, we hope to help in the recovery of the Ondoy- damaged schools, and enhance early learning for the Filipino children. This is part of IBM’s committed P40 million ($860,000) worth of technology, services and expertise to the Philippines’ disaster rehabilitation and preparedness efforts initiated after Typhoon Ondoy,” IBM Philippines country general manager James Velasquez said.

Since the program’s inception in 2009, IBM has donated over 210 KidSmart computers and trained over 1083 teachers, covering 184 schools and institutions in different parts of the archipelago, reaching Batanes to the north and Tawi-Tawi to the south. Over 800,000 grade school students have already benefitted from the program.

“We expect learning outcome to improve among our young pupils through the use of this advanced learning tools. This project is a big help in our efforts to further improve basic education in the country. Thanks to our private sector partners such as IBM Philippines for helping bridge the gap in education and for making technology accessible to our public schools,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

The partnership will take effect for two years where DepEd is expected to provide policy directions to ensure the proper implementation of the program, assist in the monitoring, and help in the care and maintenance of the learning tools.

IBM will provide at least two trainers for a three-day orientation and training of the teachers and schools’ ICT coordinators on the use of the application programs that comes with the entire program.

The three-day training seminar will cover areas such as The Theory of Multiple Intelligence and Its Application in the Classroom; Center-based Teaching and Learning Integrating Technology in the Classroom; Use of Productivity Tools (Lotus Symphony); and the Use of RiverDeep software.

IBM immediately reached out to government agencies to provide recovery and relief support in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy last year.

The Adopt-A-School Program encourages private sector groups to work with DepEd in improving the basic education system. Corporations and individuals can help boost teacher training programs, donate school buildings, computer laboratories and textbooks, or sponsor medical and dental missions to public schools.