REVILLA BILL PUSHES TO PROVIDE ONE TABLET PER STUDENT

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla filed Senate Bill No. 258 that seeks to provide one tablet per student for those enrolled in public schools and state universities and colleges.

“Bagamat dalawang taon na ang lumipas simula nang tayo ay tamaan ng pandemya, at may ilan na rin sigurong mga estudyante ang naka-adjust, hangad pa rin natin na mahandugan ang bawat mag-aaral ng sariling tablet upang makatulong sa kanilang pagaaral. Ito ay hindi lamang solusyon sa patuloy nating nararanasan ngayon, kung hindi paghahanda na rin natin sa future-proofing ng learning modalities para sa ating mga magaaral”, Sen. Revilla explained.

DepEd, in a statement, holds the position that distance learning would also address the persistent problem of classroom shortage in public schools, which is seen to recur once the classes shift to face-to-face arrangement post-pandemic. Former DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones further said that, “the greatest takeaway from this past year is that we have to be willing, flexible, and embrace technology”.

When enacted, the “One Tablet, One Student Program” will be implemented by the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to provide a tablet computer to each student of public elementary, secondary, and tertiary schools to enable them to effectively participate in online learning.

“The provision of learning gadgets to the students of the public school system will assure that quality education will be accessible to more Filipinos, especially to those who cannot buy on their own”, Sen. Revilla added.

In the bill, those students who already have their own personal learning gadgets shall be given educational assistance in the form of an internet allowance instead, to cover the cost of connectivity.

In a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) last year, 4 out of 10 Filipino students aged 5 to 20 years old do not have a device for distance learning.

However, even before the crafting of the proposed law, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. has already launched his own initiative, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last 2020, to distribute tablet computers among Filipinos who are greatly in need of gadgets for the conduct of their work or online classes. Through his effort, the Kaalaman, Ating Palawakin (KAP) Amazing Gadget Giveaway provided thousands of beneficiaries with fully-functional tablet device.

The initiative started when many of his followers on his social media accounts requested for laptops and tablets to be used amidst the adjustment on workplaces and schools due to the pandemic.

Sen. Revilla immediately responded to the call and did his best to give many Filipino workers and students the means to continue their work and studies remotely.

"The changing of times demand that we respond swiftly to the needs of our people. Our laws must always be ever dynamic and responsive especially in ensuring that the youth, who we so fondly call the future of this nation, will have bright future through programs that help enrich their education. The "new normal" after all, has taught us that emerging trends in learning should be adapted to so that no student will be left behind", Sen. Revilla stressed.

ISANG TABLET BAWAT ESTUDYANTE ISINUSULONG NI REVILLA

NAGHAIN ng panibagong panukalang batas si Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. –ito ang Senate Bill No. 258 na naglalayong mabigyan ng isang tablet ang bawat estudyante sa public school, state universities at colleges.

Dahil sa bilis ng sistema sa pag-aaral dulot ng makabagong teknolohiya ay sinabi ni Revilla na hindi na basta luho lamang ang pag-gamit ng tablet dahil isa na itong matinding pangangailangan upang makasabay sa idinidikta ng panahon. Ayon kay Sen. Revilla, marapat lamang na makisabay ang batas sa pagbabago ng panahon upang tugunan ang mga modernong pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral na Pilipimo, lalo na sa ilalim ng "New Normal". Ayon sa Senador, "hindi madali ang makabagong demands sa panahong ito lalo na't patuloy ang pagtaas ng lahat ng bilihin. Kailangang kasing bilis ng pagbabago ng panahon ang ating pagkilos na matugunan ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan lalo na ang mga kabataan na itinuturing nating pag-asa ng bayan."

Napatunayan umano ito sa kasagsagan ng pandemya na nairaos ang pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng online learning na bagama’t hirap ang mga guro ay nagawa nilang hindi mapag-iwanan ang mga mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng gadget.

“Actually, regular naman tayong namimigay ng tablet at laptop sa maraming estudyante sa pamamagitan ng ating ‘Kaalaman Ating Palawakin (KAP) Amazing Gadget Giveaway’, lalo na noong kasagsagan ng pandemya, kaso hindi natin kakayaning lahat ng estudyante ay mabigyan, pero kung may umiiral na batas ay masisiguro natin na lahat ay mabibigyan” paliwanag ng beteranong Senador.

Nakapaloob sa naturang panukala na sakaling maging isang ganap na batas ang “One Tablet, One Student Program” ay pangungunahan ng Department of Education (DepEd) at Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ang pamamahagi ng tablet computer sa bawat mag-aaral ng public elementary, secondary, at tertiary schools.

Ang mga estudyante na mayroon na umanong sariling tablet ay pagkakalooban na lamang ng educational assistance sa pamamagitan ng internet allowance upang makakuha ng maayos na serbisyo ng internet at hindi aasa lamang sa tingi-tinging koneksiyon.

“Simula kasi ng mamigay tayo ng tablet at laptop ay hindi na tumigil ang maraming estudyante na humihingi, lalo na sa mga probinsiya, kaya sana ito na ang maging solusyon para magkaroon ang lahat ng tablet para matiyak natin ang kalidad ng edukasyon lalo na sa pampubikong paaralan” pagwawakas pa ni Revilla.

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