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DEPED Cites SMART Broadband Internet Program for Public Schools
December 2005/ MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) recently cited the efforts of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) for providing broadband Internet connectivity and computer and Internet training for teachers of public high schools.
The award was given by DepEd in appreciation of the "Smart Schools Program", the wireless operator's flagship community service initiative for the education sector. It was given during the Adopt-a-School partners recognition ceremony held at the DepEd Complex.
Accepting the award from DepEd Assistant Secretary Teodoro Catindig was Smart president and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.
"Smart Schools is our initial major effort in providing support to public schools. We are learning as we are doing. We intend to do much more in partnership with other private companies to help make broadband access to the Internet a vital resource for education in the country," Nazareno said.
Through this program, Smart provides public school teachers and students with broadband Internet connectivity. Depending on their location, the schools are connected using any of the different Internet access technologies of the PLDT Group - PLDT myDSL, Mabuhay Satellite's VSAT service and Smart WiFi.
The Program is anchored on three components: Access (Internet access), Content (access to online content and various hosting solutions), and Training (ICT trainings for teachers and stakeholders).
To date, Smart has 'adopted' 28 public high schools as Smart School Program partners - from as far north as Basco, Batanes (Batanes National Science High School) in and as far south as Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi (Tawi-Tawi School of Arts and Trade).
Last year, DepEd also cited Smart and its employees for contributions in supporting basic education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Through an employee-initiated campaign, Smart was able to raise enough funds to purchase textbooks for all students of the Salih Yusah Elementary School in Jolo, Sulu, increasing the student-to-book ratio to 1:1 from 1:3.
