SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to pursue his proposal for the digital transformation of the basic education sector to support the realization of the Department of Education Digital Education 2028 or DepEd Digi-Ed.

Under DepEd Digi-Ed, the DepEd will provide WiFi in schools nationwide with the help of different service providers.

“Hindi na natin maiiwasan ang paggamit ng teknolohiya sa pag-aaral at pagtuturo, lalo na’t naging malinaw sa atin ang mga aral noong kasagsagan ng pandemya,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education said.

“Sinusuportahan natin ang pagpapalawak ng paggamit ng teknolohiya sa DepEd, kaya naman patuloy nating isusulong ang mga panukalang batas na magpapalaganap ng inobasyon sa pag-aaral at pagtuturo,” he added.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said at least 2,000 schools are being provided with satellites for Wi-Fi internet connectivity, and 25 schools were chosen to test the proof of concept of the US company Starlink.

Gatchalian’s Digital Transformation of Basic Education Act or Senate Bill 383 aligns with Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.

Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology will be mandated to fast-track the installation, deployment and activation of free public Wi-Fi in all public basic education institutions.

The bill also mandates DepEd to push schools to enhance and strengthen the capacity of their information and communications technology to implement distance learning.

Under the measure, the Department of Science and Technology will assist the DepEd and the DICT on the use of science, technology, and innovation to improve traditional teaching and learning processes.