Philippine government cancels cyber education project

In the Philippines, a $465 million Cyber Education project was cancelled after allegations of corruption became very widespread. Initially, estimated to cost a mere $100 million, critics allege that anomalies took place and it resulted to the huge jump of the project cost. The CyberEd project is supposed to enable far flung schools to receive live broadcasts from master teachers, course wares on demand and other important materials. Had the project pushed through, poor students are supposed to benefit the most when CyberEd becomes fully operational after three years. But with the project becoming so controversial, it is unlikely that it will be revived soon. Without any doubt, the biggest losers will be the poor students in rural areas who are at this point, lagging far behind those studying in urban private schools. For most of them, education is the only hope to escape the bondage of poverty. And with this latest setback, that hope of deliverance is once again, far from being realized.