Teachers who receive MacBook Neo laptops under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) computerization program cannot sell, pawn or transfer the devices without authorization because these remain government property, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Tuesday.
At a Palace briefing, Angara said the department would enforce measures to prevent the unauthorized disposal of the laptops, warning that personnel who sell the units would be required to pay for them.
“Government property iyon. Kapag ibinenta ho nila iyon, babayaran nila iyon,” he said.
The department has begun the nationwide distribution of 172,654 MacBook Neo laptops, including 169,008 units for teachers and 3,646 for administrative personnel. It is also distributing 62,717 Windows-based laptops.
Angara said each school receiving MacBook Neo units has an assigned information technology officer who will serve as custodian of the equipment.
“The IT (information technology) officer – each school has an IT officer, parang siya ‘yung custodian nung IT equipment sa (they are somehow the custodian of IT equipment at their) school,” he said.
The laptops are also enrolled in a Mobile Device Management system, allowing authorities to remotely lock or disable devices that are reported stolen or found to have been illegally sold.
Those who violate government property rules may face administrative and criminal charges.
Angara said the department would prioritize schools that have not received laptop allocations in recent years as it continues the nationwide rollout.
“Tinitingnan ho natin in the last few years sino iyong mga nakatanggap uunahin natin iyong mga schools na walang allotment, so, iyon ang priority,” he said.
Schools with information technology and Educational Technology programs will also receive priority, including those using Khan Academy.
Khan Academy Philippines provides free educational courses to selected basic education schools and offers Khanmigo, an artificial intelligence-powered tutor designed to assist learners and teachers.
For schools without electricity and internet access, Angara said DepEd is strengthening its electrification and solarization efforts with other government agencies. The initiative aims to help teachers in underserved areas access the technologies being introduced through the computerization program.
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