Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) — State auditors flagged the Department of Education (DepEd) over the delivery of defective tablets.
In its 2022 report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the malfunctioning tablets worth over P116.7 million were delivered to schools division office (SDO) in Batangas from August to November 2021.Reported issues included unresponsive screens and swelling batteries.DepEd, however, said the tablets were repaired or replaced by the supplier.COA also found that P5.7 million in various equipment were issued to non-teaching personnel of the Caloocan schools division office proper.These included laptops, cameras, and mobile phones which were purchased to enhance computer laboratories.Devices were issued to officials and employees who are non-teaching personnel and whose functions are administrative and supervisory in nature, raising doubts as to the propriety and necessity of the procured devices,” COA said.In its reply, DepEd explained that the devices in the SDO proper and four strategic schools have served well their purpose for distance learning.It added that these are used for video lessons, activity sheets, and self-learning modules that could be accessed through online links.There is a need to be innovative and accept the inevitability of technology-enabled classrooms as we progress to the future learning spaces,” DepEd explained.
