During the onset of the ongoing pandemic, many learning institutions (schools), teachers, parents, students, and even IT professionals were caught offguard with the forced implementation of distance learning all over the country. The implementation of distance learning proved to be challenging with recent data showing that only 28% of Filipino students believe that they are prepared and equipped for what could be this new normal in education.
The main issue here is not only students who are being left behind by this digital shift; teachers are also experiencing equal, if not greater, challenges compared to their students.
Edukasyon.PH and ASUS Philippines are teaming up through the ASUS Edukasyon School Partner Program to provide Philippine educators with the technology and training materials they need to keep teaching and guiding students through the new online setup. Part of the program will provide school administrators and technicians up-to-date technology and all-around support. These include cloud-based applications to supply the need for collaborative learning and cybersecurity ware to keep important records and student data safe.
As the leading education technology platform in the Philippines, Edukasyon.PH aims to empower more than 20 million Filipino Gen Z youth to make self-aware education decisions that lead to a fulfilling career and life. Their online platform enables students to access senior high schools, colleges and universities, scholarships, online courses, internships, and other learning resources.
“By working closely with the IT departments of each school, we can be sure that they are equipped with the resources needed to effectively assist teachers and students through the digital shift,” according to Rafi Quisumbing, Chief Technology Officer for Edukasyon.PH during a discussion on the state of educators in distance learning and the vital role of IT departments in the digital transformation of schools in the Philippines at an online media briefing this week.
With Quisumbing at the said online media briefing was Edukasyon.PH CEO Grace David and representatives from ASUS Philippines.
“ASUS has always been a go-to brand for reliable gadgets for learning, both for Filipino students and teachers. This year, we are extending our long-term support to the entire education ecosystem with technology that improves productivity and learning outcomes while keeping IT management costs low,” said ASUS Philippines Country Manager George Su.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taken more than 1.2 billion students out of their classrooms all over the world. But even as campuses stay closed and face-to-face lessons remain suspended, more than 24 million elementary and high school students have returned to school as the Department of Education (DepEd) has shifted to distance learning.
“On top of juggling work with family duties, educators usually take on more administrative tasks and struggle with unfamiliar technology too. That’s why we turn to the ones trained to handle and troubleshoot tech problems — our schools’ IT departments,” said former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary and current President of the UP System Information Technology Foundation (UPSITF), Trustee of the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP), and ASUS Philippines’ Ambassador for Education and Digital Transformation Mon Ibrahim.
The ASUS Edukasyon School Partner Program is set to bridge gaps in virtual learning through a holistic, tech-forward approach. Benefits for ASUS partner schools include an annual IT fund, learning seminars, internship opportunities, and exclusive discounts on ASUS products.
To kick off the initiative, ASUS and Edukasyon.PH will host a FREE Live Webinar on hosting, growing, and maintaining Learning Management Systems (LMS) this Thursday, 08 July 2021 at 1:30 PM. It will be open to all IT personnel and teachers, plus give them a chance to win four brand new ASUS laptops which include the ASUS BR1100, ASUS newest and best K-12 education laptop, and more freebies during the event. Register via asus.edukasyon.ph to attend this webinar.
In addition, Edukasyon.PH and ASUS Philippines have launched an all-in-one hub of helpful online learning resources for education partners.