Capitol school board approves P177M budget

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial School Board (PSB) yesterday approved its annual budget for 2011 amounting to P177 million, higher than the P115 million last year.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the budget covers the salaries of teachers funded by the Provincial Government, construction of classrooms and the purchase of school supplies.

Cebu Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Arden Monisit expresses his gratitude with the considerable increase of the budget to augment additional teachers and classrooms.

The PSB is currently paying 95 teachers in high school and elementary but Garcia said the number will be increased to over a hundred teachers with the newly approved budget.

These teachers are previously screened and ranked by the Department of Education (DepEd) and will be given top priority in filling the new items available.

DepEd 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia earlier announced that there are almost a thousand new teaching positions for Central Visayas available for this year, and around 300 are allocated for Cebu province division.

Garcia also committed to construct 200 additional classrooms this year prioritizing those areas with overflowing number of pupils per classroom.

The Province will continue distributing school supplies to pupils as Garcia’s commitment in supporting the school children.

Garcia said that the number of school supplies will even be more, with the implementation of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program this coming school year 2011-2012, which requires kindergarten before enrolling in grade one.

Garcia also met yesterday the members of the Provincial Board to discuss guidelines on how local government units can get financial assistance for educational matters.

Garcia emphasized that the appropriated amount for infrastructure projects should really be implemented and completed.

During the PSB meeting yesterday, Garcia was also informed that DepEd has intensified in reminding pupils not to talk to strangers to prevent another kidnapping incident. — (FREEMAN)