COMMUNITY | PLDT, Smart expand digital learning initiatives across Philippines
One of its flagship programs, School-in-a-Bag, provides portable digital classrooms equipped with a teacher’s laptop, 10 tablets loaded with DepEd curriculum-based content, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket Wi-Fi device, and expandable storage.
PLDT and Smart expanded their digital education initiatives in the Philippines, with programs reaching nearly 120,000 students, training tens of thousands of teachers, and introducing artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering technologies in classrooms nationwide.
The telecommunications companies said their #KonektedforLearning initiative, developed with the Department of Education (DepEd) and other partners, focuses on improving access to quality education in underserved communities through digital classrooms, teacher training, and technology-enabled learning.
One of its flagship programs, School-in-a-Bag, provides portable digital classrooms equipped with a teacher’s laptop, 10 tablets loaded with DepEd curriculum-based content, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket Wi-Fi device, and expandable storage. PLDT and Smart said they have deployed 784 School-in-a-Bag packages nationwide, benefiting nearly 120,000 students. UNICEF has committed more than 300 units for schools in remote and economically disadvantaged communities.
The companies also continued to support the Central Visayan Institute Foundation Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP), an instructional approach adopted by DepEd to help schools sustain learning during disruptions caused by natural disasters, extreme weather, earthquakes, and armed conflict. The program has trained about 33,000 teachers, according to PLDT and Smart.
Through the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), launched in 2003, the companies said they have trained more than 53,000 teachers and students in communications technologies. Now in its fifth phase, the program includes lessons on AI, automation, and intelligent systems.
PLDT and Smart have also expanded AI training for educators through their AI-in-a-Box program. Since its pilot boot camp last year, the initiative has trained more than 800 teachers to use AI tools for lesson planning, classroom activities, data analysis, and administrative tasks.
“Technology has the power to expand opportunities for learning, but its true value lies in how it helps students, teachers, and communities overcome barriers,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart.
“Through KonektedforLearning, we work with partners to ensure that more Filipino learners can access quality education, develop future-ready skills, and continue learning even in challenging circumstances.”
The companies said the initiatives support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education by promoting digital literacy and expanding access to technology-enabled learning.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is partially assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
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