ORTIGAS, Pasig City — Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Sonny Angara and National Electrification Administration (NEA) administrator Antonio Almeda have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to implement a school electrification program that would energize schools across the country, particularly those in remote areas, using solar power.

According to Angara, DepEd forged the partnership with NEA as a means of improving digital infrastructure and internet connectivity in schools and other educational institutions.

"No student will study in the dark again," the education chief pointed out while announcing that rollout of the program is planned to begin in the first quarter of the current year and completed within the next two years.

For his part, Almeda cited that the program aims to ensure that “every child, regardless of how remote the location may be, can have access to the transformative power of education and electricity."

“We are forging a partnership that holds the promise of a brighter future and opportunities for students in underserved communities,” he noted.

Under the program, DepEd will identify and prioritize schools that need electrification, secure permits and provide logistics and financial support for the project while NEA, through power cooperatives, will help install solar panels, monitor the system and conduct assessments to ensure the project’s completion.

Internet connection for remote schools
Aside from solar power, schools in remote villages and areas surrounding them were prioritized in the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act after the Senate adopted an amendment being pushed by Senator Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino stressed that the country must have a good internet connection for students, especially in the Bangsamoro region where internet speed is slow.

“To ensure connectivity and uninterrupted service, we must prioritize providing internet access to remote areas. Every single area and island in the country must have internet connection,” he underscored.

“The purpose is to provide students with appropriate tools, enhance digital literacy and improve the quality of education,” he added.