THE DEPARTMENT of Education is advocating the release of connectivity allowance for public school teachers and senior high school learners to further support the country’s shift to distance learning effective next year.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones requested the Department of Budget and Management to issue P4 billion for the implementation of Digital Education, Information Technology, and Digital Infrastructure and Alternative Learning Modalities as per Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

The requested amount shall cover the provision of connectivity load for the 3.2 million Senior High School (Grades 11 and 12) learners and around 900,000 teachers nationwide.

“We recognize the importance of load allowance for our learners and teachers to deliver quality education despite these challenging times due to COVID-19 pandemic. With support from our Congress and the DBM, we shall continue to push for more financial assistance to our stakeholders,” Briones said.

Once granted, teachers will receive P450 load allowance, while SHS students get P250 per month for three months, amounting to a total of P3.6 billion.

“‘Pag may connectivity load na, pwede na kayong mag-download ng (educational) videos or mas makausap pa ang inyong mga estudyante,” Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said during a consultative meeting with school heads at Triangulo Elementary School in Naga City.

Meanwhile, the remaining P400 million will be allocated to expand production of learning materials in the DepEd Commons, DepEd TV and Radio (P200 million); augment funds for printing and delivery of self-learning modules (P150 million), and establish 2,000 radio transmitters in the Last Mile Schools (P50 million).

Pascua appealed to school officials to remind parents and learners regarding the free-of-charge or (even without load balance) downloading of educational videos and SLMs from the DepEd Commons.

“Learners can also watch DepEd TV live streaming for free at https://www.facebook.com/ DepEdTVOfficial/,” he shared.

Pascua said DepEd is exploring more ways to support distance learning by engaging telecommunication companies in the country.