US donates 371 laptops to prop up DepEd’s ALS

MANILA, Philippines —  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated 371 laptops worth over P16 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of its commitment to support the Philippine government’s basic education learning continuity plan during the pandemic.

In a statement on Monday, USAID said the laptops will support Alternative Learning System’s (ALS) teachers and coordinators in the field who provide education to out-of-school children and youth.

“ALS teachers and administrators will be able to use this equipment to continue working with students, updating lesson content, innovating teaching methods, and monitoring learners’ progress,” USAID said.

USAID Philippines Office of Education Director Dr. Thomas LeBlanc handed over the laptops to DepEd Assistant Secretary for ALS G.H. Ambat in a ceremony at DepEd’s office.

This assistance is part of USAID’s Opportunity 2.0, a five-year, P1.9-billion ($37.5 million) project that supports DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and local governments in their ongoing programs providing education, employability skills, and work experience to out-of-school youth in the country.

USAID said that the program will benefit 180,000 youth in more than 12 cities across the Philippines. Zac Sarao, trainee

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