Pasig City (3 July) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) received 271 Classmate PC (laptop computers) from Intel Corporation to improve classroom instruction and teacher training in information communication technology (ICT) in public schools. This is the first batch of computers from the 820 commitment in two years.

According to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus the donation was part of the agreement among DepEd, Intel and GILAS or Gearing-up Internet Literacy and Access for Students where the parties agree to provide personal computers to public schools to help uplift the quality of public education.

"This is part of our thrust at DepEd in enlisting the help of the private sector to bring Philippine basic education at a significant comparative advantage with other countries," Lapus said.

Lapus added that DepEd has to find ways by which students can become at ease in the use of modern technology in education like their counterparts in other countries.

As stipulated in the agreement, the DepEd can be used in training teachers, students and employees where it will also be responsible for the handling, installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment.

It is also the responsibility of DepEd to select the school that will receive the computers. The schools should have wireless internet connectivity, capacity to keep the computers secure and safe, and adequate physical facilities to support the computers. The department will also make available technical support when the computers fail to function.

For its part, Intel provides training of teachers on basic ICT literacy with pedagogy-technology integration under its Intel Teach to the Future program. It will also provide other technical and logistical support to program implementation including providing support to help DepEd structure and develop the framework for program evaluation.