Two Eastern Visayas schools to test digital learning system for Grade 2 pupils

Posted on August 26, 2026 at 5:40 am

Tacloban City — Grade 2 pupils in two public schools in Eastern Visayas will soon have access to digital learning tools under a new project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

DOST and DepEd Eastern Visayas signed a memorandum of agreement Thursday to pilot the Enhancing Teachers Unimpeded Rational Objectives Digital Learning System (e-TURO DLS) in Sto. Niño SPED Center in Tacloban City and Guinsorongan Elementary School in Catbalogan City, Samar.

The project will run for 12 months, from August 2026 to July 2027, with a budget of PHP 2.3 million from DOST’s local Grants-in-Aid program.

The money will pay for the digital learning platform, computers and other equipment, internet service, teacher training and other needs of the two schools.

DOST Eastern Visayas Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña said the project is intended to give students and teachers more access to technology, especially in schools where such resources may be limited.

“This is a formal joining of hands between two institutions that share one heart; the future of the Eastern Visayas child,” Ocaña said.

DOST will provide laptops, computers and smart televisions, along with internet connectivity and server support. It will also train teachers, school information and communications technology (ICT) coordinators and administrators who will use and manage the system.

DepEd, for its part, will use the system as part of classroom instruction. Teachers and ICT coordinators from the two schools will be assigned to oversee its use.

The system will initially be used by Grade 2 pupils. DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said it will provide additional learning materials that teachers can use alongside their regular lessons.

The platform includes digital learning materials, a learning management system and tools that allow teachers to create content with the help of artificial intelligence.

DepEd will make sure that the materials and activities used through the system follow the K-12 curriculum and learning standards.

Teachers and school personnel will start orientation and training in September, with activities continuing until July 2027.

The two schools will serve as testing grounds for the project, giving DOST and DepEd an opportunity to see how the system works in actual classrooms and how it can be used by teachers and pupils in their daily lessons.

Photo courtesy: PIA Leyte

Photo Caption: Helping bring digital learning closer to young learners, Richie M. Señalde, ICT coordinator at Cogon Elementary School, serves as one of the facilitators during the pilot implementation of the e-TURO e-learning project.