IN an effort to make the 106 city-run public schools on a par with exclusive private schools, Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada is introducing a “digitized system of governance, management and operations” in the public-school system of Manila.
This should finally propel the city’s 73 elementary schools and 33 public high schools into the digital age through the acquisition of information-technology (IT) equipment, Estrada said. With today’s increasing demand for IT professionals and computer-skilled workers, he said he wants every young student in Manila to be educated and trained in a technology-driven school environment.
“This will prepare Manila’s public schools for IT integration,” Estrada said.
For starters, Estrada acquired 5,100 units of LCD projectors with whiteboards, which are ready for delivery; each classroom will have one unit.
“We also now have 500 units of desktop computers, copiers and technical/vocational/livelihood [TVL] tools and equipment, sound system and tablet armchairs for newly constructed classrooms around the city,” he added.
Classroom and school-wide instructions to students, as well as management and administrative governance, will also progress into the digital with the help of computer tablets with installed instructional materials. About 11,000 public-school teachers have already received one of these in Manila.
As one of Estrada’s top priority programs, education has a 2017 allocation of more than P2 billion from the city’s Special Education Fund for the construction of additional school infrastructure and other education-related programs.
For this year, P7.3 million in cash is set aside as incentive prizes for the top 5 percent of graduating classes and top 3 percent of current Grades 7 and 6 pupils, Division of City Schools-Manila Superintendent Wilfredo Cabral said.
A total of 1,189 students have received their cash gifts, including those who graduated in March. First-honor students were given P10,000; P7,000 for second honors; and P6,000, P5,000 and P4,000 for third, fourth and fifth honors, respectively.