DepEd to use ICT to enhance K to 12 basic curriculum

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will undertake a review on computer accessibility in public schools achieved by past and ongoing information communications technology (ICT) programs.

The assessment of the current state of computerization of public schools will aim to help DepEd better integrate ICT in its ambitious K (Kindergarten) to 12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) reform program.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that ICT education will be an important aspect as they formulate an effectively enhanced K to 12 BEC curriculum.

“We have to set up our ICT thrust as we gradually implement the K to 12 Basic Education Reform Program. As we all know, ICT plays a very important role in administrative functions as well as in the teaching and learning process,” Luistro explained.

A project team spearheaded by the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (FITED) will visit selected regional and division offices, public schools, and alterative learning centers that have ICT projects.

The assessment components include an inventory of ICT for Education (ICT4E) projects conducted by the DepEd with private sector, and foreign donor organizations, and a survey on ICT utilization, and studies on relevant cases.

The study will be from July to September this year.

Among the initiatives the assessment will include is the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP) which deploys computer packages to public elementary and high schools nationwide to support the teaching and learning process.

The DCP, DepEd said, has so far covered 51 percent of elementary schools and 88 percent of high schools as of the beginning of school year 2011- 2012.

“The improvement of the design and implementation of initiatives such as the DCP, which have direct bearing to the overall reforms propounded by K to 12, is an important undertaking,” Luistro added.