The Smart Schools Program is a community service
initiative of Smart Communications Inc., in partnership with the
Philippine Business for Social Progress, with the support of the
Department of Education and Microsoft's Partners in Learning Program.
The
Smart Schools Program is a community service initiative of Smart
Communications Inc. that promotes Information and Communications
Technology in basic education through partnerships with public high
schools, its officials and parents-teachers-community associations
(PTCAs). Specifically, it aims to provide public school teachers with
Internet access through the PLDT group's wide range of communications
solutions, access to online content and teacher training. It is
implemented through the Philippine Business for Social Progress, with
the support of the Department of Education and Microsoft's Partners in
Learning Program.
- Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
PBSP,
through its regional offices, is the implementing arm of the Program.
PBSP conducts groundwork for Smart Schools, facilitates renovation
works and equipment turnovers, coordinates ICT trainings through the
PBSP-affiliated Microsoft's Partners in Learning Program, monitors
development milestones, and provides partner schools with
capability-building trainings for Program sustainability.
- Microsoft
Philippines, Inc.'s Partners In Learning (PIL) Program AND Smart
Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Partner
The Partners in Learning Program is part of Microsoft's long-term
commitment to empower teachers and students to help achieve their
fullest potentials by providing greater access to the latest computer
technologies and trainings.
It provides Microsoft Office
Specialist (MOS) trainings to teachers under the Smart Schools Program
through the South Eastern College (SEC) or through its partner
Universities and Colleges (U&Cs).
Following
a training-led deployment, existing SWEEP partner schools (Colleges and
Universities) were accredited as PIL partners and underwent trainors'
training on MOS. They in turn will provide training to public high
teachers who are partners of the Smart Schools Program.
- Department of Education (DepEd)
DepEd,
through its Adopt-a-School Program, supports the Smart Schools Program
through the assistance of its division offices. The agency provides tax
incentives to private institutions that assist in the upgrading and
modernizing of public schools.
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The SMART Schools Program is anchored three components, namely:
- Access
- Content
- Training
Access
The
Program offers one year, free of charge, unlimited Internet access and
connectivity through the PLDT group's wide range of connectivity
solutions, depending on the school's requirements.
Content
The
Program will offer hosting solutions, which include access to relevant
on-line information such as curricula resources, learning portals,
e-groups, chat rooms, and e-learning multimedia materials.
Training
In
partnership with Microsoft's Partners in Learning Program and the SWEEP
schools, the Program offers ICT trainings for teachers and identified
non-teaching partners (i.e. PTCA, LGU, and school administration
personnel).
Furthermore, to address long-term sustainability,
the Smart Schools Program will offer business training for school
stakeholders.
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The
Smart Schools Program was launched in a series of activities from
December 5 to 7, 2004. A press briefing was held in Cebu City to
officially announce the Program. The second activity was through the
PLDT Group's participation at the 1st ICTs in Basic Education organized
by the Foundation for Information Technology in Education (FIT-ED) at
the Waterfront Convention Center in Cebu City from December 6 to 7,
2004.
The
Smart Schools Program has three pilot schools: Malabon National High
School (MNHS) in Malabon City for Luzon, Science and Technology
Education Center (STEC) in Lapu-Lapu City for the Visayas, and Jolo
National High School in Jolo, Sulu for Mindanao.
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