By MeLVIN G. CALIMAG
The technology era seems to have finally descended on the Department of Education (DepEd) as it unveiled a flurry of IT projects aimed at automating its communication infrastructure as well as facilitating the integration of IT in the school curriculum.
The department’s computerization program has been delayed since its budget allocation is spent primarily for the salaries of teachers and for building classrooms in different parts of the country.
The computerization of its infrastructure system were undertaken only after the World Bank (WB) offered to shoulder the cost of putting up a LAN (local area network) in its central office in Pasig City and the local office of software giant Microsoft decided to set up IT laboratories to train teachers in Microsoft technology.
The pricey sum of
R25.3 million needed in the implementation of the LAN project was funded by the WB through the Third Elementary Education Project. The initiative is meant to enable DepEd offices to communicate with each other and share electronic information and IT resources in a secured environment.
The fiber-optic network, installed by Nortel Networks, interconnects 660 computer work stations in four major buildings at the DepEd complex. The modes of communication made available by the LAN project include e-mail, calendar sharing, instant messaging and teleconferencing. The second phase of the project will involve setting up the Wide Area Network (WAN) to connect the regional and division field offices with the Central Office.
On the other hand, the IT laboratory deal it forged with Microsoft Philippines is part of the software maker’s Partners In Learning program where investments in software and services as well as a $250-million cash grant will be given to deliver IT skills and to assist in ICT integration in the curricula in the next five years.
The IT lab in the DepEd compound is the second such facility to be put up in Metro Manila, with more to follow in Cebu and Davao. According to Microsoft Philippines, the IT lab will be used to train public school teachers on teaching technology and assist DepEd in building a national IT infrastructure for teacher training.
DepEd officials also announced that DETxt, its SMS-based text messaging service, has been upgraded with the launching of speed numbers from Globe and Smart that can be used instead of a 11-digit contact number.
Launched in January 2003 by outgoing DepEd Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, DETxt allows public school faculty, students and the general public to express their concerns and inquiries using their mobile phones.
Also part of its modernization program is ATM Checkless Payroll System which enables public school teachers to receive their salaries through automated teller machines (ATMs) instead of Continuous Form Checks (CFCs).
As of August 2004, a total of 58,098 teachers are currently being paid through activated ATM accounts.
In addition, 32, 237 teacher accounts are being processed. A total of 90,335 teachers – approximately 20 percent of all nationally-funded teachers on the DepEd payroll – will be enrolled in the ATM checkless payroll system by end 2004.
