The city government of Pasig City and the local school board have approved the P444 million supplemental Special Education Fund (SEF) for 2022 that will cover the Schools Division Office (SDO)’s expenses in preparation for the 100 percent face-to-face classes this coming November.
SDO Superintendent Evalou Agustin made the announcement on Monday, Sept. 5, during the weekly flag raising ceremony at the City Hall quadrangle.
Agustin said the approved fund will be used to procure more armchairs and other equipment needed in schools, as well as hire more local teachers to address the teacher shortage in the city.
The fund also includes facilitating and providing more training for teachers and capacity development activities for 2023.
The proposed fund was presented by the SDO during their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and subsequently approved on Friday, Sept. 2.
Aside from the presentation of proposed budget allotments with the city treasury, they also tackled initial reports on the opening of face-to-face classes last Aug. 22.
They alsodiscussed the slight increase in enrollment in all levels of the city’s public schools.
Face-to-face classes
As of Monday, Sept. 5, the third week since the opening of face-to-face classes, Agustin said 149,000 students have enrolled in public schools, and 41,000 in private schools.
Around 34 public schools have implemented blended learning wherein students may opt to study online or attend classes on-site.
Six schools are holding five-day full face-to-face classes, she added.
Meanwhile, ten schools are utilizing a combined system of blended and full face-to-face classes, alternating classes in their respective schedules.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto thanked and congratulated the local Department of Education (DepEd) staff and the SDO for a "peaceful and orderly" run of face-to-face classes.
"Nandito lang po kami sa likod ninyo, sumusuporta. Kung ano po ang kayang itulong ng lokal na pamahalaan, makakaasa po kayo dito (We are here to support you. You can trust and depend on the local government to help you with whatever you need),” he said.
Incoming projects
Agustin announced the SDO will be distributing story books to Kinder to third grade level students as part of their “reading program.”
Every Kinder to Grade 3 student in the city’s schools will be given a story book for “parents to read to them at night,” she said.
The program is expected to be launched on Sept. 28.
Sotto reiterated the local government’s efforts in finding available land to build more school infrastructure.
Three sites have been identified for purchase and pending negotiations, Sotto said.
The rehabilitation of school facilities are also ongoing.
The local government also aims to resume and expand the Malusog na Batang Pasigueno (MBP) program in October for K-12 students, in order to help fullfill their nutritional needs as they study.
Teacher promotions
During the flag raising ceremony, 126 promoted teachers of the SDO – 43 for elementary, and 83 for secondary — took their oath before Sotto.
For the elementary level, nine were promoted to Master Teacher I; eight to Teacher III; 23 to Teacher II; and three to Administrative Assistant I.
For the secondary level, one teacher was promoted to Head Teacher III; nine to Master Teacher I; 24 to Teacher III; 38 to Teacher II; three to Special Science Teacher I; four to Administrative Officer II; three to Teacher I; and one to Administrative Assistant III.
Their promotions were in accordance with the guidelines and selection process of the DepEd.