CICT to computerize 320 public high schools Lawrence Casiraya INQUIRER.net
October 19, 2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Information and Communications Technology expects to computerize 320 public high schools within the year through a project that donates computers loaded with open source software.
Called iSchools (or eEskwela), the CICT is implementing the project with the help of the Department of Education and state-run universities and colleges (SUCs).
Each school will receive an iSchools package consisting of 20 desktop PCs, a server, wireless networking equipment, LCD projector, a multifunction printer and two airconditioning units.
The PCs are loaded with several open-source tools including EdUbuntu (a version of Ubuntu designed for schools), OpenOffice, Apache, MySQL and Mozilla Firefox, among others.
Each school is required to send a minimum of 18 faculty personnel to several training programs, including onsite courses for basic computer and Internet literacy.
Some 25 SUCs will also be holding computer courses for high school teachers. Each school's designated computer lab manager will likewise undergo technical training.
Moreover, each school will be required to send an English teacher along with a student (preferably the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper) to a week-long Web development course. Each school is then expected to create its own website.
The iSchools project is supported by the P1-billion eGovernment fund, a special annual allocation from the government for IT-related projects.
The CICT reviews project proposals submitted by government agencies and once approved, recommends the same to the Budget department for funding.
Tim Diaz de Rivera, CICT commissioner for eGovernment, said in an interview at least 20 percent of the eGovernment fund (or about P200 million) automatically goes to education-related initiatives like iSchools.
About 75 percent of the P200 million is spent of hardware, which covers PCs and other equipment, he said.
