PLDT and Smart Communications are making quality education more accessible to Filipino learners in far-flung communities. Through their School-in-a-Bag (SIAB) program, the PLDT Group is delivering portable digital classrooms to last-mile schools, supporting the government’s goal to improve student achievement.
“The School-in-a-Bag has empowered PLDT and Smart to collaborate with fellow education champions in ensuring that no learner is left behind. The SIAB is not a one-time act of charity but a sustainable program that brings positive impact to communities for generations to come,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
Huawei Philippines collaborated with PLDT and Smart to donate one SIAB package to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that the agency has deployed to Batanes, the Philippines’ northernmost province. The tech company also worked with the PLDT Group to deploy two SIAB packages in Allen and Mapanas, both fifth class municipalities, in the province of Northern Samar.
“We support programs that innovate how our students learn in schools and communities. The School-in-a-Bag helps us amplify our efforts in bringing meaningful change to the country’s future nation builders,” said William Hu, Public Affairs Vice President at Huawei Philippines.
Since 2016, PLDT and Smart, together with their partners, have distributed more than 650 SIAB packages across the country. The program has benefited more than 116,000 students and nearly 7,000 teachers nationwide.
The portable digital classroom allows remote learning in last-mile schools and complements the Department of Education’s ‘MATATAG’ curriculum. Each SIAB package contains a laptop and 10 tablets that are pre-loaded with DepEd curriculum-based learning materials, mobile Wi-Fi, and expandable storage devices. The program also offers teacher training and year-long monitoring support to ensure effective implementation.
The DepEd has acknowledged PLDT and Smart as long-standing allies in enhancing the quality of education in the Philippines. The PLDT Group has helped learners and educators adapt to the new normal of education, whether they choose full on-site learning or hybrid mode, where students alternate between face-to-face classes and distance learning. They also enabled various education programs powered by digital innovations.
For more information about SIAB, please send an email to learnsmart@smart.com.ph.
