Makati Mayor Abby Binay has announced that the city will be hiring jobless jeepney drivers for the implementation of the city’s Mobile Learning Hub Project this October.
“Jeepney drivers in the city who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic will be our partners in running the Makati Mobile Learning Hub Project. Their jeepneys will be outfitted to transport books and other learning materials, teachers and librarians, and laptops with internet connection,” Mayor Abby said.
She said the city has been coordinating with the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (MJODA) for the rental of around 27 jeepneys that will be deployed to the barangays when classes start in October.
“We believe this is a great opportunity for residents whose main livelihood as jeepney drivers has been abruptly cut short due to the pandemic. They, too, like the displaced teachers and tutors we have hired to operate the learning hubs, will have regular income to support their families,” Mayor Abby said.
“We are glad that we have come up with this project that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. Not only will it help students and their parents cope with the new ‘blended learning’ approach in education, but will also provide much-needed employment to Makatizens,” she added.
According to Rita Riddle, Program Director of the Makati Education Department, the city will be paying P2,000 as daily rental for each jeepney.
“Our initial target is 27 drivers hired. The number may still increase because the jeepney federation is proposing to do a rotation among its member-drivers. We are looking at 100 drivers per week eventually,” Riddle said.
She added that around 54 teachers will be hired for the implementation of the project.
The Makati Mobile Learning Hub Project is an innovative learning platform focused on ensuring that the youth of Makati will continue learning despite the risks and restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Jeepneys outfitted as mobile learning hubs will be deployed throughout the city to help students and their parents, particularly those who lack gadgets and other learning tools. Teachers, assistant teachers or tutors will be on hand to orient parents who have difficulty in guiding and teaching their children using self-directed modules.
Earlier, Mayor Abby announced that the city will provide at least 2,500 brand new laptops to its public school teachers by October this year, in time for World Teacher’s Day.
The city will also provide each public school student with a learner’s package containing an On-The-Go (OTG) flash drive with learning modules, printed modules, and two washable face masks. Both teachers and students will receive free five-hour daily internet load.
To date, the city has surpassed 100 percent of target enrolment in its public schools as the number of enrollees from preschool to senior high school reached nearly 83,000.