Public school teachers in Makati City will be given brand new laptop computers for school year 2020-2021, Mayor Abigail Binay announced Monday.
According to Binay, her new project covers all 2,500 teachers in elementary, junior and senior high school in the city.
“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,” she said.
Binay said they were planning to distribute the gadgets this October, in time for the celebration of World Teacher’s Day.
“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,” the city chief executive said.
Last June, Binay announced that over 85,000 students from preschool to senior high school enrolled in the city’s public schools for the coming school year would each receive a learner’s package, on top of the annual freebies they receive under Project FREE. In addition to this, both teachers and students will receive a free daily five-hour internet load.
The learner’s package contains an On-The-Go (OTG) flash drive, printed modules, and two washable face masks in a pouch.
The OTG flash drive contains digitized learning modules, designed for offline use. It has videos, illustrations, and interactive exercises developed by DepEd Makati. It can be used on a smartphone (android or ios), tablet, laptop, desktop, as well as on a smart television.
According to DepEd Makati, all students will receive a complete set of printed modules in all subject areas. This is to ensure that they will have access to all kinds of learning modalities, whether online, offline, or without need of any gadget.
The city through its Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) has been providing Makati public school students with free school supplies and school uniforms since 1995. Rain gear, jacket with hoodies, reusable water tumblers, and rubber shoes are among the latest additions to the expanded Project FREE under Mayor Binay's watch.