Koronadal City, February 16, 2022 – In partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Provincial Government of South Cotabato gave away tablets to more than 2000 student-recipients in response to the challenges of virtual learning.
A turnover ceremony was held at the South Cotabato Provincial Capitol Gym in order to formally hand over tablets to the beneficiaries’ representatives coming from the municipalities of Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Polomolok, Sto. Niño, Surallah, Tampakan, T’boli, Tupi, and Tantangan.
Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo gave his message of support while Provincial Administrator Lawyer Renette Bergado handed over the gadgets.
The project aims to craft educational programs that would help address challenges in the new normal.
The latter thanked Gov. Tamayo for joining them in finding ways to improve online learning and for providing resources apart from the school gadgets to support the Free Education Program of the province.
DepEd found out through a survey that only 16% of elementary school students owned gadgets out of almost 118,000 population in the province while 42 % at the secondary level.
The tablets given were worth Php 17 million, a part of the initial Php 52 million project of the province.
Along with the tablets is instructional materials, making learning readily available for students
“Ang edukasyon ay isa talaga sa mga gina-prioritize ng ating lokal na gobyerno dito sa probinsya ng South Cotabato,” Tamayo underpinned.
Annie Paican, a teacher of New Lambunao Integrated School said, “Maraming salamat kay governor Tamayo sa pagbigay ng tablets para sa mga kabataan.”
Their school is located in a remote area where most students do not have gadgets.
Richel Roxas, a mother of four said, “Dako gid ini siya nga bulig” for her kids’ synchronous sessions, which she prefers over modular learning.
This is one of the provincial government’s projects to transition from the traditional to the digitized mode of learning.
“Mas pinili ko ang planuhin ang isang daang taon, apat na henerasyon, dahil gusto kong masiguro na sa susunod na henerasyon, protektado ang probinsya, protektado ang inyong mga pamilya,” the governor added.
(Full report is written by Claire Claverias, PIO Intern)
