Another window has been opened for public school students to access 21st century
learning tools – for free.
In an agreement signed yesterday between the Department of Education (DepEd) and Oracle Education Foundation (OEF), some 50,000 public school teachers and
students nationwide can now access online learning resources through ThinkQuest. “We need all the help we can get from the private sector to endow our learners with
skills fit for a 21st century learner,” said DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus. “Our students will now have a chance to be at par with the world’s best in terms of access to
learner-driven, technology-aided educational tools,” he added.

ThinkQuest is a sponsored program of OEF that provides free learning materials for primary and secondary schools around the world. With ThinkQuest, students can
engage in collaborative learning and participate in technology projects. DepEd’s collaboration with OEF forms part of a series of projects by DepEd under its
initiatives on ICT4E or Information Communication Technology for Education. ICT4E seeks to employ learner-driven technological solutions to improve the delivery and
access to quality basic educational. As stipulated in the agreement, OEF will provide free access to ThinkQuest projects
and the necessary technical support to public schools.

According to Lapus, coordinators will be assigned to assist OEF initiatives. He added that DepEd shall also integrate this program among its various teacher
professional development programs to equip teachers in integrating OEF projects in the delivery of their lessons.
The Education Chief added that “this partnership will be a boost to DepEd’s goal for 21st century education for all Filipinos anytime, anywhere.”
Clare Dolan, Vice-President of Oracle Education Initiatives and Lapus signed the agreement and witnessed by Natasak Rodjanapiches, Regional Managing Director
of Oracle Asia Pacific.
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