Cebu Invests P40 Million in Mobile Education to Boost Student Performance
The Cebu Provincial School Board (CPSB) has greenlit a major educational initiative called "Learning on Wheels," designed to reach all seven districts across the province. This program is a direct response to the pressing need to enhance learning competencies, with a special focus on critical thinking, mathematics, and science among the youth of Cebu.
Funding and Implementation Details
During a recent board meeting, the CPSB approved a substantial budget of P40 million for the project. This funding will be used to purchase eight mobile library units, with each vehicle costing P5 million. These modern, wheeled classrooms are scheduled to travel to various municipalities, including Mandaue City, bringing updated and interactive learning resources directly to public school students.
The project was championed by First District Board Member Neneth Reluya. "As an educator, we need to bring education right to their doorstep through Learning on Wheels," Reluya stated. She emphasized that the program is not meant to compete with existing Department of Education (DepEd) efforts but to complement them, creating a more meaningful and impactful learning experience for schoolchildren.
A Response to an Alarming Global Assessment
The driving force behind this initiative is the concerning outcome of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In this global evaluation, the Philippines ranked last out of 64 countries in creative thinking. The situation was similarly dire in core subjects, with the country ranking sixth from the bottom in Mathematics and third from the bottom in Science.
Provincial authorities are hopeful that the Learning on Wheels program will help students better prepare for their studies by providing access to updated books, interactive learning materials, and digital resources. The operation of these mobile units will be managed by the offices of the Provincial Board Members and scholars from the Cebu Province – Grants Intended for Tertiary Students (CP-GIFTS) program.
To ensure its success and proper integration into the educational landscape, the program will be closely monitored by the Cebu Provincial Government in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Museum.
