DICT Consolidates Projects Under Digital Education Program into the Digital Learners Project

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (“DICT”) issued Department Circular (“DC”) No. 003, series of 2022, to consolidate Digital Education Program (“DEP”) projects for Digital Learners and Teachers, Cybersafe Learning, and Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) Skilling/Upskilling into the Digital Learners Project (“DLP”). These programs are the DICT’s response to the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19.

The DEP is one of the pillars of Digital Philippines which is a flagship strategy designed to fulfill the DICT’s mandate and to accelerate the digital transformation of governance, education, workforce, and communities across the country through a whole-of-government approach. One of its programs, the DEP, aims to create virtual and physical platforms for delivering instructions in formal, informal, and non-formal education and to develop digital skills, stimulating the creation of ICT-based jobs and industries, and facilitating adaptation and participation of public and private sectors in an evolving digital society.

The consolidation and complementary implementation of DEP projects will be made to align with the 10-point policy agenda mandated under Executive Order No. 166, series of 2022 to accelerate and sustain economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Likewise, in order to improve the Philippines’ digital readiness and to maximize the potential of the digital economy, the DICT adopted the Connect, Harness, Innovate, Protect (“CHIP”) Framework which was developed by the World Bank in 2019 to analyze the requirements to accelerate digital transformation focusing on key drivers of digitalization. 

Consolidation of all DEP Projects

The following DEP project components are consolidated into the DLP:

1. Pilot Project for Digital Learners and Digital Teachers (DC No. 12-A);
2. Pilot Project for Cybersafe Learning for Education (DC No. 12-B);
3. Learning Management System for the Digital Transformation and Enhancement in the Delivery of ICT Literacy and Competency Development Activities, and Other Learning, Training, and Other Educational Programs/Courses as Key Public Services (DC No. 12-C); and
4. Expanded Pilot Project for Cybersafe Learning for Education (DC No. 12-D).

The DLP shall endeavor to promote digital literacy by building the knowledge of students and learners in the public schools and other public education, learning, and training environments as well as the public clientele for ICT to prepare them to participate and compete in an evolving ICT age; and deliver cyber education and learning content to promote cyber safety and security awareness and practices to address relevant stakeholders. 

Through the DLP, baseline data will be generated to map trends and inform policy and future interventions. 

Integration with DICT capacity development framework

The DICT capacity development framework shall integrate the implementation of the DEP projects along with the various ICT skilling/ upskilling initiatives of the ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau (“ILCDB”) to further leverage the device and technology mobilization component of the DEP and optimize the reach and accessibility of all ILCDB learning contents. 

Project Management Team

The ILCDB shall create a Project Management Team (“PMT”) for the DLP, which shall be responsible for executing the day-to-day tasks, producing necessary deliverables to achieve the objectives of the project, and performing other tasks as directed by the ILCDB Director IV or his/her designated representative. The PMT shall develop the selection criteria for the identification of beneficiaries, for which the school or LGU DLP beneficiary shall undergo the required application and assessment process. 

Supervision and monitoring

The ILCDB, upon the recommendation of the PMT, shall issue the necessary operational guidelines, from time to time, as may be necessary to pursue objectives of the DLP, including the mechanisms, standards, and procedures for all interested schools or LGUs for their inclusion in the DLP. 

The ILCDB, and its Supervising Undersecretary and/or Assistant Secretary, in close consultation and coordination with the DLP PMT, shall undertake the necessary steps to perform monitoring, evaluation, and reportorial functions relative to DLP. 

The full text of DICT DC No. 003, s. 2022 may be accessed here.