‘DepEd failure to fulfill basic functions betrays readiness for CyberEd’

The failure of the Department of Education (DepEd) to attend to its most basic functions such as distributing textbooks and computers for the use of public school students all over the country showed that it was not ready to implement an ambitious multi-billion undertaking such as their proposed P26.48 billion Cyber Education Project (CEP).

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a federation of public and private school teachers’ associations, said that a recently released Commission on Audit (COA) report on the operations of DepEd for 2006 showed gross inefficiency and ineptness.

Antonio Tinio, ACT chairperson asked, “How can the DepEd be entrusted with the $465-million Cyber Education Project when it cannot even manage the most basic logistical tasks, such as the distribution of textbooks?”

It was learned that COA auditors found that for 2006, DepEd failed to distribute 2.51 million textbooks and instructional materials worth at least P186.96 million to intended school beneficiaries.

It also found that P138.84 million worth of computer packages were not used because recipient schools lacked the capacity to use them, while another P115.7 million worth of computers were diverted to principals’ offices rather than to the classrooms for which they were intended.

“The revelation that a large number of computers acquired by the DepEd are not actually being used in the classrooms raises serious concerns about the agency’s readiness to implement high-tech, high-maintenance ICT projects such as CyberEd,” Tinio noted.

“In this light, we reiterate our call for the cancellation of the Cyber Education Project and for the government to focus instead on addressing the basic needs of our public schools,” Tinio said.

It will be recalled that President Arroyo has given DepEd the go-signal to resume efforts to implement CyberEd.

The CEP was suspended along with the national broadband network project more than two weeks ago due to controversies and allegations of bribery.

According to plans, DepEd will tap satellite technology to enable it to provide interactive digital technology to some 37,000 public schools throughout the country, ensuring the delivery of quality education to public school students.

With satellite broadcast capability, DepEd plans to beam 20-minute lectures of the best public school English, Math and Science teachers in other public schools to ensure that quality education in model public schools are also available to other schools.