THE House committee on new normal approved on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, a measure seeking to provide a P38-billion fund to help implement an online learning scheme and provide assistance to the education sector amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Baguio Representative Mark O. Go, who authored House Bill (HB) 6706, noted that only 20 percent of state universities and colleges are ready for the online learning scheme.
“Given that purely online-based instruction is not possible, even within the next two years, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) advises flexible learning arrangements,” Go said.
“Meanwhile, most training and assessment programs offered by Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) have been suspended,” he added.
He said the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges projected an estimated dropout of 59,000 students as a result of the pandemic.
“In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, the package proposes the extension of zero percent loans and subsidies for students and faculty to be used for the acquisition of the needed electronic devices, or for payment of tuition and other fees,” said Go.
The lawmaker said the bill also seeks to provide financial assistance to teaching and non-teaching personnel of higher and technical-vocational education institutions.
“With the suspension of classes, the welfare of school faculty and staff members during this pandemic must also be a priority concern--private HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) are considering closing down,” Go warned.
“[This] would lead to the loss of even more jobs,” he added.
The measure will also ensure the release of funds which are already appropriated in the 2020 General Appropriation Act for the programs of Ched and Tesda.
“The bill seeks to create lending programs to be extended to private HEIs and TVIs for the purpose of installation, repair, or upgrade of their IT infrastructure,” said Go.
According to Ched Commissioner Perfecto Alibin, 102 state universities and colleges nationwide have internet connection.
The official said this connection is not enough to cover the new learning systems required for the next school year.
“There are 102 with internet connectivity, but this connectivity, I should say, is not that strong that we expect for them to deliver the required flexible learning systems that we envision to implement this school year,” Alibin said. (SunStar Philippines)