FROM PEN and paper to artificial intelligence (AI) and interactive applications, PLDT and Smart’s #KonektedforLearning initiative champions learning for all by integrating technology into Philippine classrooms and boosting education resiliency through crisis-tested teaching strategies.
“Technology has the power to expand opportunities for learning, but its true value lies in how it helps students, teachers, and communities overcome barriers,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “Through KonektedforLearning, we work with partners to ensure that more Filipino learners can access quality education, develop future-ready skills, and continue learning even in challenging circumstances.”
For decades, PLDT and Smart have worked alongside the Department of Education (DepEd) to help bring inclusive and quality learning opportunities to underserved communities, including geographically isolated schools and areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.
Connecting last-mile schools
Among the flagship initiatives under #KonektedforLearning is the School-in-a-Bag, a portable digital classroom designed to bring quality education in remote and underserved communities. Each package comes with a laptop for the teacher, 10 tablets pre-loaded with DepEd curriculum-based learning materials and interactive educational applications, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket Wi-Fi device, and expandable storage.
To date, PLDT and Smart, together with their partners and donors, have deployed 784 SIAB packages nationwide, reaching nearly 120,000 students. UNICEF alone has committed more than 300 SIAB units for schools in hard-to-reach areas and economically disadvantaged communities.
Building resilience through innovative teaching
In recent years, extreme weather, earthquakes, and armed conflicts have disrupted classes across the country. To mitigate the impact caused by these events, the DepEd has adopted the PLDT and Smart-backed Central Visayan Institute Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP).
Pioneered by Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Dr. Christopher Bernido and his late wife, Dr. Marivic Carpio-Bernido, CVIF-DLP champions ‘learning by doing,’ which places students at the center of the learning process. Using Learning Activity Sheets or single-page guides that break down complex concepts into manageable lessons, students work through the activity on their own with minimal teacher intervention. CVIF-DLP also addresses the teacher shortage through a parallel class system that allows one expert teacher to simultaneously handle three classes.
With PLDT and Smart’s help in scaling the innovative teaching strategy, the program has trained around 33,000 teachers.
Preparing students for tomorrow’s technologies
Beyond improving access to education, #KonektedforLearning also prepares the Filipino youth to thrive in an increasing digital landscape. The Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) works closely with schools to produce industry-ready engineering and information and communications technology graduates who are equipped with the skills to master existing technologies and adapt to emerging innovations.
Launched in 2003, SWEEP is the longest-running industry-academe linkage program in the Philippines. Now in its fifth phase, partner schools dive deeper into AI, automation, and intelligent systems. So far, the program has trained more than 53,000 teachers and students on the latest communication solutions powering the country’s connectivity.
Upskilling teachers for tech-powered learning
As technology continues to evolve, PLDT and Smart are also helping teachers harness digital tools to improve the classroom experience. Through the PLDT Group’s AI-in-a-Box program, teachers are discovering how AI can help create more dynamic lesson plans, create custom learning activities, analyze data for insights, and automate routine administrative tasks. Since its pilot bootcamp last year, the initiative has trained over 800 teachers on the responsible and productive use of AI in education.
These efforts highlight PLDT and Smart’s use of technology for good, ensuring that no learner and teacher are left behind. The #KonektedforLearning initiatives form part of the PLDT Group’s commitment to help the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 on Quality Education, with a strong focus on digital literacy.
