From Paper Keyboards to Real Discovery

For years, ICT classes at Jefmin Elementary School felt more like an exercise in imagination than a true dive into technology. Teacher Jeri Micka Galang did everything she could—guiding students through computer lessons using only textbooks, sketches, and paper-printed keyboards. Her pupils memorized keys they had never pressed and tried to picture what Paint, Word, and other programs looked like in action. But for a subject rooted in hands-on learning, imagination could only take them so far.

That changed when the school received its new DigiHub, a project of SM Foundation and its partners Mastercard, Ace Hardware, and SM Store. With 20 brand-new desktop computers, a smart TV, headsets, and improved classroom safety upgrades, Galang finally saw her students’ learning shift from guessing to discovering. For the first time, children could press real keys, open actual applications, and watch lessons come alive before their eyes.

Before the DigiHub arrived, ICT lessons were slowed down by the school’s limited 25 tablets—three students sharing one device, long charging times, and apps that could barely load. Some lessons simply couldn’t be taught at all. Most students also had no computers at home, leaving the classroom as their only chance to learn meaningful digital skills.

Now, more than 300 learners from Grades 4 to 6 will benefit from a modern ICT setup—giving them not only digital literacy but confidence to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. Galang believes this transformation will prepare her students not just for high school, but for life.

The DigiHub has also opened doors beyond the classroom. JES can finally train participants for the desktop publishing category of the Division Schools Press Conference, a competition they previously had to skip due to the lack of equipment. With renewed excitement, Galang looks forward to seeing her students compete and excel in new arenas.

Above all, the DigiHub brought hope. “They gave us the assurance that our students will leave school knowing how to use digital tools,” Galang shared. “For us, that means a brighter, more empowered future.”