TACLOBAN CITY – Some schools in Leyte and Southern Leyte have expressed concern over the lack of classrooms in typhoon-stricken areas with only a few days to go before classes start on August 22.
The Department of Education (DepEd) bared that at least 182 schools were damaged by typhoon “Odette” in December.
DepEd said 3,596 classrooms are unusable for the opening of classes next week during the joint Oplan: Balik Eskwela at Brigada Eskwela Interagency Convergence recently.
"Though there are lots of challenges, we cannot afford to fail our learners under our division. Kaya kahit may problema may sulosyon ang Maasin City Division (Even though we have problems, the Maasin City Division has solutions)," Josilyn Solaña, Schools Sivision Superintendent of DepEd Maasin City, said.
She disclosed that most of them will use makeshift classrooms such as tents during the limited face-to-face classes in typhoon-hit areas.
In Baybay City, Leyte, they reported that a school was buried by a landslide during typhoon “Agaton” while two more will be demolished as they were declared by the Mines and Geoscience Bureau as landslide-prone.
DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte vowed to address the shortage of classrooms during her visit to Southern Leyte last week.