Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said should he win in the upcoming 2022 elections, he intends to implement a program called the National Education Portal (NEP) to hasten the digital shift of the country’s education system.
Marcos explained that the NEP will be an online platform accessible to students and teachers to simplify and secure e-learning for both public and private institutions. It will also serve as a central hub to allow students and teachers to communicate securely and provide digital learning materials.
The portal will be developed collaboratively between concerned government agencies together with IT experts from the private sector.
Marcos explained that the program would go hand in hand with the current administration’s Build, Build, Build (BBB) program as he is also looking to integrate a digital infrastructure thrust.
Marcos also observed that due to the onset of Covid-19 and the country’s protracted lockdowns, Internet access, particularly for students and employees consigned to their homes, has become indispensable.
Marcos lamented the plight of teachers and learners who were ill-prepared to face the challenges posed by distance learning. There were reports of teachers and students alike figuring in accidents to find better mobile Internet signals.
The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer said that the BBB program initiated by the Duterte administration is worth pursuing since it will be playing a pivotal role in the country’s post-pandemic recovery.
Marcos added that he would also seek the support and assistance of telcos and Internet providers to ensure that the NEP becomes a success.