Angara Leads Drive to Modernize School Infrastructure, Bolster Digital Resilience

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd), led by Secretary Sonny Angara, has spearheaded partnerships with state agencies, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector to modernize public school infrastructure and expand digital connectivity nationwide. The partnerships aim to address two critical challenges facing the basic education system — a classroom shortage and the digital divide. Angara emphasized that through collaborations with national agencies, LGUs, and the private sector, the goal is to resolve issues such as dilapidated school facilities, insufficient classrooms, and the lag in digitalization. Improving digital connectivity, especially in rural areas, is deemed crucial for equalizing educational opportunities and providing quality education. This initiative can be seen as part of infrastructure investments akin to the government's "Build, Build, Build" program. The concentrated investment in education is underpinned by the recognition that it leads to the development of the future workforce and enhances national competitiveness. In the Philippines, there is a strong demand for improving the educational standards of the youth and acquiring digital skills as drivers of economic growth. Furthermore, this move represents a concrete step towards bridging the digital divide, a challenge exposed during the pandemic when transitioning to online education. The government plans to promote not only the improvement of internet connectivity in schools but also digital literacy training for teachers. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo