USAID, partners hand over 100 School-in-a-Bag Kits for select remote schools in PH

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with Smart Communications and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to hand over 100 school-in-a-bag kits worth over P10.4 million or $208,000 to the Department of Education (DepEd) for distribution to select schools in Bicol, Western Visayas, Maguindanao, Cotabato Special Geographic Area, Cotabato City, and other schools associated with USAID’s remote learning study.

Each kit contains a laptop computer, 10 tablets with one terabyte of memory each, and pocket Wi-Fi preloaded with P500 worth of internet access; e-resources such as DepEd TV episodes, interactive literacy primers in mother tongue languages; USAID-supported e-books, and other digital resources that can bridge the digital divide and improve early grade reading, especially for students in the most remote areas of the country.

USAID Philippines Acting Deputy Mission Director Brandon Miller said that through the “Smart School-in-a-Bag” initiative, the partners are able to advance digital literacy amid and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in remote areas that lack access to technology.

“We will continue to forge partnerships with the private sector, local government units, and local communities so that every child has access to a quality education,” Miller added.

DepEd undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio welcomed this undertaking and thanked its partners USAID, Smart Communications and PBSP for these donations.  He said that ‘bayanihan’ is very much alive in DepEd even as it faces very difficult challenges to make sure that learning continues. 

“We recognize the value of harnessing the generosity of our partners and stakeholders in improving learning outcomes of our learners, especially in Last Mile Schools.” He said. 

According to San Antonio, the United States government has been a key development champion in the Philippines for over 60 years, working with individuals, communities, and the government to improve everyday lives. (Photos: DepEd/Google Images)