Manila: Private schools have agreed to promote the use of tablet computers as a learning aid for students in the kindergarten, primary and secondary levels, a local paper said.
“Private schools now welcome the advent of technology, particularly the Tablet PC,” Eleazardo Kasilag, president of the Federation of Associations of Private and Administrators (Fapsa), told Bulletin.
FAPSA members have agreed to invite bidders who can supply tablet PCs for a good price to students, so that private schools can start implementing the project next year, said Kasilag.
The association is interested to get the best from suppliers, such as the ideal Tablet PCs battery life, hardware, operating system, and, above all, price, said Kasilag.
The tablet PC should be durable enough so that students can use them from pre-school, elementary to high school, Kasilag said.
All private school teachers believe that the tablet PC can help improve the quality of education for children, Kasilag said.
When President Benigno Aquino launched the implementation of a law that has increased from 10 to 13 the years of kindergarten, primary, and secondary education for students in public schools this year, he also said that students should be equipped with tablet computers instead of books.
Private schools have started taking the challenge, Kasilag said.
June is the start of school year in 2012.
There are 2,100 private and government-run schools nationwide. Philippine public schools offer free basic education, from the kindergarten to secondary education.
The United Nations believes the Philippines has not yet satisfied UN’s Millennium Development Goals on people’s access to basic education.
