16 December 2009

QC public schools to have new I.T. equipment

Public schools in Quezon City will continue to offer information technology (I.T) courses in spite of the damage caused by tropical storm Ondoy floods to many high-tech equipment in city schools.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has directed General Services Office (GSO) chief Rolando Montiel to make an inventory of equipment such as computers, laptops, printers, projectors, LCD, digital cameras, television sets, air conditioners and scanners in the city’s 98 public elementary and 48 public high schools and to determine which are beyond repair and must be replaced.

In a report to Mayor Belmonte, QC Division of City Schools assistant head Dr. Corazon Rubio said that a total of 183 computers, 30 printers, seven projectors, three laptops, three digital cameras, six LCD, 53 TV sets, 25 aircon units, 12 computer tables, six computer chairs, six whiteboards, two scanners, and four biometrics were damaged by Ondoy last September.

Belmonte, who is now on his third and last term as QC mayor, wants all damaged equipment that could not be repaired be immediately identified for replacement to give students continuous access to information technology.

“Let’s give our public students the knowledge and skills that they need in facing the challenging world today where I.T. plays an important role in everyone’s life. Hindi dapat nating hayaan na mapag-iwanan sa larangan ng I.T. ang mga estudyante natin sa pampublikong paaralan. Let’s act fast on this problem,” he said.

Earlier, the QC city schools division had reported that more than 800,000 textbooks were also damaged and had to be replaced with new ones. Of this number, more than 260,000 will be funded by the QC government and the rest by the Department of Education (DepEd).

By providing the needed textbooks, Mayor Belmonte expects to attain the city’s goal of 1:1 book ratio before his term ends in June 2010.

The city government, under the administration of Mayor Belmonte for almost nine years, has consistently supported programs and projects aimed at improving the quality of education in public schools.

The Philippine Star

December 13, 2009