Parents, donors enjoined to buy or donate DepEd-compliant gadgets, devices » Manila Bulletin News

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

While buying new gadgets or devices for distance learning is not required for the implementation of blended or distance learning this coming school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, June 10, reminded parents, as well as donors, to purchase or provide only those that meet the standard specifications set by the agency.

The office of DepEd Undersecretary for Administration, through the Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS), recommended minimum specifications for laptops, desktops, tablet PCs, tablets, smartphones, and internet services that will be donated to public schools, teachers, and/or students through a memorandum dated June 8, 2020.

DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua told the Manila Bulletin that the minimum technical specifications for gadgets and devices issued by DepEd to potential donors are the “same” for parents, learners and teachers as well. “We only dwell on minimum specs, not on the cost,” he said. “But we prefer that these are compliant so we can maximize the use of these gadgets,” he added.

What to consider

To ensure the safety of learners and teachers amid the COVID-19 situation in the country, DepEd will be implementing blended or distance learning this coming School Year (SY) 2020-2021 set to formally start on August 24.

Through blended/distance learning, lessons will be delivered to the students in the comfort and safety of their homes, through printed or digital modules delivered to the homes of the students, or picked up by their parents at designated places (within coordinated schedules), online learning resources such as the DepEd Commons, and television or radio-based instruction.

Pascua said that the minimum specifications set by DepEd will help “facilitate the conduct of distance education under the COVID-19 pandemic and such other emergencies in the future, and will be appropriate to the digital contents and software applications that will be installed by DepEd.”

For those who will opt for online learning as an alternative learning modality, gadgets or devices that have access to the Internet is necessary. For learners in lower grade levels, Pascua said that smartphones and tablets—which are similar except that tablets have bigger screens—are more ideal. “For high school, Tablet PC, not tablet, is more appropriate because it can be used with productivity tools,” he added.

Based on the minimum technical specifications set by DepEd, laptops or desktops must have 1.6Ghz based speed with turbo speed, 8 GB RAM memory, 13-inch screen, 512 GB HDD SATA, built-in speakers and camera, wireless and bluetooth connectivity, keyboard, optical or wireless mouse, and headset, among others.

DepEd also recommends 2-in-1 tablet PC or those with convertible or detachable keyboard with 1.1 GHz base clock speed, 4GB memory, 10 inches screen size, with internal storage of 32 GB, with built-in speakers and camera, wireless and bluetooth connectivity, keyboard, optical or wireless mouse, and headset, among others, for the use of Junior and Senior High School students.

When it comes to tablets, DepEd said that the processor should be quadcore 1.3 GHz, with 2GB memory, 8-inch screen, 32 GB storage, with front and rear camera, Android 9.0 operating system, and wifi and bluetooth connectivity. For Smartphones, these should have Octa-core 2.2 GHz as processor, with 2GB memory, 6-inch screen, 32 GB storage, with front and rear camera, Android 8.1 operating system, and wifi and bluetooth connectivity.

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