President Duterte wants every Filipino children involved in digital communications early to secure the country’s future.
Duterte said he is planning to order the Department of Education to replace textbooks with electronic gadgets like tablets to involve Filipino children in digital communications early and fully online government transactions, especially applications, to modernize the country.
“Sinabi ko na, online na lang. Passport, online. Clearances, online. Gamitin na ninyo because it is the digital age,” Duterte said upon his arrival from Vietnam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
He said he wants Filipino children to learn about the growing technology in the digital age this early, reiterating that they are the country’s future.
“Ang pag-asa natin ay ang mga anak natin. So they have to learn the basics about cyberspace and everything, digital communications,” Duterte said.
“And I will make that mandatory. Instead of textbook bibili na tayo ng gadget for each of the children. Mag-aral na sila ngayon as early as first year high school,” he added.
“Mandatory na sa lahat ng gobyerno – sa gobyerno sa atin is to provide the textbooks and, of course, learn how to use the computers and everything,” Duterte said.
The Chief Executive acknowledged that this plan would be expensive but he vowed to find the money to make this a reality.
“And I will save enough money for this. It’s gonna be billions but I will save for something that is beneficial to our children,” he said.
Last August, the DepEd received 370 computer tablets, sample student chairs, and the scale model and design of a typhoon-resistant school building from the United States Agency for International Development.
Part of the Information and Communications Technology for Reading Initiative under Basa Pilipinas, the 370 tablet computers were turned over to the City Division of San Fernando City, La Union, which will benefit 26 schools, 60 Grade 3 teachers, and approximately 1,700 pupils. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
