SWS: 31% of families with distance learners have weak internet connection

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-one percent of Filipino families with members studying through online distance learning have weak internet connection, according to survey results released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on Friday.

Based on the survey conducted by SWS from November 21 to 25 last year, 39 percent of families with members aged five to 20 who are currently studying through online distance learning say they have strong internet connection.

The 39 percent (correctly rounded) is composed of 26 percent who said their internet connection is somewhat strong and 14 percent who said it is very strong.

Meanwhile, 31 percent (correctly rounded) of the families said their internet connection is weak, with 21 percent saying it is somewhat weak and nine percent saying it is very weak.

The remaining 29 percent said the strength of their internet connection is fair.

According to SWS, the survey also found that 86 percent of the families spend an average of P901 per month as additional expenses for internet connection.

Only three percent said they have no additional spending, while two percent said they get free internet and nine percent did not give an amount, the poll body added.

The survey, likewise, found that 56 percent of the families use prepaid internet connection, 41 percent use postpaid connection, and five percent rent internet use.

The SWS said that in November 2020, an estimated 4.3 million or 14 percent of enrolled school-age Filipinos are exclusively participating in online distance learning while 1.2 million or 4 percent are in online distance learning mixed with modular distance learning.

The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 individuals aged 18 and above nationwide, composed of 600 respondents in Balance Luzon and 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

SWS said the sampling error margins for the survey are ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

JPV