Creating Pathways in Education and Technology

Ninety five (95%) of public schools in Bulacan are equipped with computers. However, the computer units are almost always in a state of disuse. The reason: Teachers and school administrators who are suppose to utilize the computers do not have the slightest idea of how to operate a computer or, in some cases, even to start one properly.

Upon learning about the situation, Pathways to Higher Education, an organization committed to the betterment of education in the Philippines, the Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Josie Dela Cruz, and Department of Education in Bulacan decided to initiate a project that aims to familiarize public school teachers, administrators and students in basic computer usage. This initiative was dubbed as Pathways-Computer Literacy Program (CLP) and was launched on January 19, 2004.

Now on its 22nd month of implementation, CLP have taught 45 DepEd personnel, 449 students and 1,572 teachers from public schools in different parts of Bulacan. And this is only the beginning, CLP is set to continue educating teachers and students in basic use of computers and, soon, on how to utilize the Internet.

Today, teacher and students in Bulacan are discovering the importance of computers in their lives and recognizing that knowledge in computer usage is essential in keeping up with the changing time. As one teacher puts it, “Akala ko dati nakakatakot ang computers pero hindi pala. Ngayon, mas mapapadali na ang trabaho ko at magagamit ko na ang computer ng anak ko. (I thought computers were scary but they’re not. Now, I can finish my work faster and I can use my child’s computer.)”