DepEd: Public schools have sufficient learning materials

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) assured yesterday most of the public schools, including those in Yolanda-devastated areas, have sufficient learning materials this school year.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo said the learning materials are also available in the DepEd Learning Portal, which addresses delivery problems.

“The learning materials that we provide the schools are now in digital format. We install the learning materials in the DepEd portal so the schools with access to the Internet can download them,” Mateo said. The computerization program is part of the DepEd’s regular budget.

He said the agency has already provided computer units to public secondary schools.

“This year our target is the elementary schools,” he said, adding the DepEd will procure some 15,966 computer packages.

Meanwhile, Mateo said they have provided new textbooks and other teaching resources to schools damaged by Yolanda last year. TDepEd has buffer stocks of textbooks.

Mateo said the agency has already addressed the 2010 backlog in textbooks, attaining a 1:1 student to textbook ratio.

DepEd has continued to deliver the learning materials for Grades 3 and 9.

A new curriculum for Grades 3 and 9 will be introduced this year under the K to 12 program.

“So far, there are a few schools which have not received the learning materials yet maybe because of the delay in delivery or procurement,” Mateo said.