(Eagle News) – Solar lamps for school children. Solar sets and solar panels for schools without electricity.
This is what the Department of Education hopes to provide with the launch of its most recent project, the LightEd PH Campaign.
The project aims to provide solutions to schools and homes that have no power through conventional and alternative sources of energy, according to a DepEd statement.
“Light makes vision possible. In the realm of education, let us be the light that will help our children realize their vision for themselves, their families, and our country. We call on everyone to be part of this LightEd PH campaign and to bring light to those who need it and to help in extending the hours of quality learning,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro FSC said.
“Don’t let darkness hinder any Filipino child from education he or she deserves,” Luistro added.
DepEd Undersecretary for Partnership and External Linkages Mario A. Deriquito said that as of School Year 2013-2014, there are 5,954 schools in the Philippines that are either un-energized or are in remote and off-grid areas, where at least 1,101,051 students, whose access to technology, enhanced instructional methods, and more engaging learning activities, are limited.
The health of these students is also at risk from using kerosene lamps that emit harmful fumes, which is the only means for them to study at night,” says DepEd Undersecretary
Under LightEd PH, the DepEd is launching “One Child, One Lamp”, a campaign that will be implemented in partnership with Children’s Hour and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to raise funds for solar lamps that will be distributed to students in off-grid public schools.
Undersecretary Deriquito notes, “Students in off-grid barangays have limited time to study at night. Providing them electricity or solar lamps will help them extend their study time, thus increasing the chance to improve their academic performance.”
DepEd has partnered with Global Peace Foundation, Thrive Solar Energy Philippines, Stiftung Solarenergie, and other organizations to provide mini-solar LED lamps that can be used for up to ten hours after three to four hours of charging during the day. At Php 400 each, these solar lamps are also water- and shock-resistant, produce white light that is brighter than that of a kerosene lamp, and do not emit harmful fumes, allowing the learners to continue their studies at night.
Once they reach the beneficiary schools, the solar lamps will be lent to students in a manner similar to that of lending library books, in order to ensure their proper usage and maintenance.
The public is encouraged to partner with DepEd to make this possible through: funding or donations to acquire the solar lamps; logistical assistance to distribute the lamps to the different sites; volunteering to train beneficiary schools in the usage and maintenance of the solar lamps; and spreading awareness on the campaign to increase public support.
Interested donors may donate or give a solar lamp to one child or donate at least one hour’s worth of their salaries through Children’s Hour Philippines. A company can donate an equivalent amount to match employees’ donations, or the equivalent profits or earnings of one hour of business or trade, or donations in kind. Company donors may also take part through the Adopt-A-School Program, DepEd said.
Moreover, in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE) and private power or energy companies, DepEd will furnish off grid-schools with solar energy sets and solar panels that will serve as a stand-alone and self-sustaining technology system to power the school. For on-grid schools that continue to be unenergized, DepEd is collaborating with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to encourage local electric cooperatives to extend power lines to the service drop near the schools’ premises.
Once energized, the schools will be provided by DepEd with information and communication technology (ICT) packages, including computers, laptops, speakers, and projectors.
DepEd said those interested individuals or groups may contact the Office of Partnerships and External Linkages (OUPEL) at (02) 633-7207 and/or (02) 633-5313 for more details.
(Eagle News Service)