DepEd to continue support for ICT programs in education

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) is continuing its support for programs applying information communication technology (ICT) in teaching, learning, school management, and governance in all public elementary and secondary schools through the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).

However, Education Secretary Armin Luistro assured that their implementation of the DCP will not in any way affect their parallel efforts to address the resource shortages on classrooms, school chairs, teachers, textbooks and even the construction of toilets.

Luistro said that while ICT in education in important, the said resources remained important and valuable in the effort to raise the quality of education in public elementary and high schools all over the country.

The DepEd, it was learned, was set to start the nationwide implementation of the Unified Basic Education Information System which aims to improve the monitoring and evaluation of DepEd programs as well as support the planning and programming process.

Luistro issued the statements in yesterday’s launch of the two-day 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT Education at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

The DepEd, in cooperation with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Intel is hosting the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT Education.

Common and pressing issues and challenges confronted by ministries of Education in integrating ICT in education were discussed.

The theme for the 2nd AMFIE is “Evaluation and Assessment: Effective and Safe Use of ICT in Education”. This year’s forum have participants from 20 countries, with most country delegations headed by Vice Ministers, Secretaries of State and other high officials. International experts will serve as resource persons representing various international organizations as well as Intel Corp.

Aside from UNESCO and Intel, DepED also partnered with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH), to help in organizing the event.