Classrooms shortage still a problem

CEBU, Philippines - Inadequate classrooms in public schools still remain as the top dilemma of the Department of Education, a high-ranking official admitted yesterday.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the shortage of classrooms has worsened with the series of natural calamities that hit the country.

“Tinuod na, dili mi mobakak. Kining atong problema sa classrooms dugay naman ni kaayo,” said the Visayan-speaking Briones in a press conference yesterday that followed after the official launching of this year’s Brigada Eskwela in Cebu City.

Briones said there is an ongoing inventory of public schools and other facilities to determine how to possibly address the shortage prior to the opening of classes in June.

She clarified though that the constructions and repairs of school buildings are under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

She said the budget for the construction had already been downloaded to DPWH for implementation and DepEd no longer has control over the projects.

But Briones said they are regularly asking updates from the agency.

This year, she said DepEd allocated P534 billion for the construction of around 47,000 classrooms nationwide.

In a separate interview, DepEd-7 Director Dr. Julieta Jeruta said she cannot determine yet the schools that lack classrooms since the surveys are still ongoing.

She said surveys are done at the school level to ascertain well the deficiencies and prevent the manipulation of reports, adding that they would not want to rely solely on the consolidated data from the school districts.

“Sa ganyan makita namin ang true picture ng inadequacy or kung may excess man iyan,” she said.

Jeruta claimed that Central Visayas has enough classrooms, but needs more laboratories for schools that offer specialized tracks for the Senior High School program.

As to the Brigada Eskwela launching, Jeruta said she was thankful for Cebu City being chosen as this year's host. For her, this gives the local DepEd offices a chance to showcase their best practices, such as partnering with public and private sectors to pursue collaborative initiatives.

The kickoff of the Brigada Eskwela yesterday was peaceful and orderly, according to Superintendent Virgil Renes, Police Community Relations deputy at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

Budget

With the opening of classes just around the corner, about P105 million has been allotted for the purchase of school materials and the construction of additional classrooms throughout Cebu province.

Based on the data from the Cebu Provincial School Board, P45 million out of the P105 million has been set aside for the construction of classrooms.

According to PSB, the budget is intended to construct around 23 school buildings or 43 classrooms. Each school building has two classrooms.  Each classroom can accommodate up to 40 students.

Also, P8.8 million has been earmarked for the installation of mobile classrooms or temporary learning space to accommodate students who will take up senior high school.

The Capitol has also allocated P18.84 million for the purchase of various school supplies for grade school pupils in the province.

“These school supplies are set for distribution to kindergarten and grade school pupils of the different schools of the province,” LSB said.

At least P5.1 million has also been allotted for the purchase of 15,800 pieces of laptop bags and 15,800 pieces of envelope bags for school teachers and principals.

The Capitol’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has scheduled the pre-bidding conference and opening of bids for the bags and school supplies at 2 p.m. on May 17 and May 29, respectively.

For the purchase of instructional materials, the province budgeted P14.96 million for senior high school and grade school students.

Also, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has allotted P4.4 million for the purchase of 17,600 disaster preparedness manual entitled “Pagpangandam sa Katalagman” for the 51 towns and component cities, including 1,203 barangays.

The manual will also be given to around 20,000 teachers and principals in the province.

The PSB said the province has allocated a budget of P3 million for the purchase of 5,000 monoblock armchairs.

On top of these, new bags, notebooks, pencils, and other scholastic materials would also be given.

The province allocated P4.4 million for the purchase of 97,667 bags alone that will be given to kinder to grade 1 students.

The province targets to distribute the school materials and supplies starting next month.

Adopt-a-school

Among the social responsibility of the Philippine National Police is to adopt an educational institution to promote peace and security, and cleanliness pursuant to Republic Act 8582 (Adopt-a-School Program Law), Renes said.

Renes said each police station in the province’s 51 towns and component cities is also responsible in maintaining the cleanliness of the schools.

He said the police personnel will help teachers and parents in repainting, sweeping, and rebuilding or renovating school buildings, among others.

“Ganahan ta makatabang pag-improve sa public schools and make them a conducive learning environment for the students,” he said.

To realize the spirit of the Adopt-a-School Program Law, DepEd generates projects that would allow participation of the private sectors and government agencies and that such projects would be instrumental in addressing the resource needs of the schools, in providing students quality learning environment and instruction, and in making quality learning experience accessible to the widest extent. — May B. Miasco, Kristine B. Quintas, and Mae Clydyl L. Avila (FREEMAN)