Thousands of learners still in evacuation centers
Published Jan 28, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Over 16,000 learners are still staying in almost 300 schools that are being used as evacuation centers (ECs) for Taal volcano victims, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Based on its latest Education Cluster Report, DepEd data showed that 16,293 learners are staying in 295 public schools used as ECs in Region IV-A. To date, DepEd said that 2,800 classrooms in nine school divisions including Batangas, Batangas City, Calamba City, Cavite, Gen. Trias City, Laguna, Lipa City, San Pablo City and Tanauan City are being used as temporary homes of 21, 318 families or 77,067 individuals. In Batangas, a total 13, 481 learners - out of 17, 498 families or 62, 280 individuals - are staying in 2, 396 classrooms in 247 schools and in Batangas City, there are 824 learners - out of 1, 530 families or 6, 481 individuals - currently staying in 257 classrooms in 15 schools. In Calamba City, 43 learners - of 217 families or 788 individuals - are housed in three classrooms in 3 while in Cavite, 812 learners - out of 1, 072 families or 3,753 individuals - are staying in 90 classrooms in seven (7) schools. In General Trias City, Cavite province, 246 learners - out 379 or 1, 561 individuals - are using 8 classrooms in 5 schools as serve as temporary shelter while in Laguna, a total of 102 learners out of 157 families or 170 individuals are staying in 11 classrooms in 5 schools. In Lipa City, there are 444 learners out of 184 families or 837 individuals use 34 classrooms in 8 schools as evacuation centers while in San Pablo City, a total of 106 learners - out of 104 families or 684 individuals - are staying in one school. In Tanauan City, 235 learners out of 177 families or 694 individuals are using 4 classrooms in 1 school as ECs. With the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowering Taal’s status to Alert Level 3, DepEd said there are only four divisions in Region IV-A where classes at all levels remain suspended -- affecting 548, 672 learners in 1,010 schools. Breathing space Earlier, DepEd announced that the school calendar for schools affected by the Taal’s unrest has been modified to help ensure that the required number of school days are met. Briones said that the lowered alert status of Taal gives DepEd a “breathing space” and an “opportunity to catch up with what is lacking.” During this time, she noted that school personnel may do initial cleaning up - among others. DepEd, Briones added, also continues to trace its displaced learners and personnel. Latest DepEd data showed that a total of 536 personnel have been tracked in 272 ECs. Meanwhile, Briones said that DepEd has adjusted its school calendar to make up for the lost school days of affected learners. The DepEd Region IV-A, she noted, has already submitted a proposed modified school calendar which contains the necessary adjustment in the school days and other important activities. Due to the lost school days, Briones said that Taal-affected schools will be holding classes on Saturdays and Sundays. “We have a modified school calendar which will enable the affected schools to catch up,” she added. Amid requests to allow Taal-affected students to complete their respective grade levels or graduate without having to attend classes, Briones maintained that this may not be possible since “they have to comply with the requirements of the law” which states that for the SY 2019-2020, there should be 203 school days. As stated in the School Calendar for SY 2019-2020, the last day for the current school for public schools was originally scheduled on April 3, Friday. In the modified school calendar, the schedule for the final examinations has been adjusted. The School Year-end preparations, graduations, recognition and moving up may be scheduled between April 1 to 6. Briones also reiterated DepEd’s appeal to the local government units to provide multipurpose centers for victims of disasters instead of using schools as ECs to avoid further disruption of classes and delay in the school calendar.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Based on its latest Education Cluster Report, DepEd data showed that 16,293 learners are staying in 295 public schools used as ECs in Region IV-A. To date, DepEd said that 2,800 classrooms in nine school divisions including Batangas, Batangas City, Calamba City, Cavite, Gen. Trias City, Laguna, Lipa City, San Pablo City and Tanauan City are being used as temporary homes of 21, 318 families or 77,067 individuals. In Batangas, a total 13, 481 learners - out of 17, 498 families or 62, 280 individuals - are staying in 2, 396 classrooms in 247 schools and in Batangas City, there are 824 learners - out of 1, 530 families or 6, 481 individuals - currently staying in 257 classrooms in 15 schools. In Calamba City, 43 learners - of 217 families or 788 individuals - are housed in three classrooms in 3 while in Cavite, 812 learners - out of 1, 072 families or 3,753 individuals - are staying in 90 classrooms in seven (7) schools. In General Trias City, Cavite province, 246 learners - out 379 or 1, 561 individuals - are using 8 classrooms in 5 schools as serve as temporary shelter while in Laguna, a total of 102 learners out of 157 families or 170 individuals are staying in 11 classrooms in 5 schools. In Lipa City, there are 444 learners out of 184 families or 837 individuals use 34 classrooms in 8 schools as evacuation centers while in San Pablo City, a total of 106 learners - out of 104 families or 684 individuals - are staying in one school. In Tanauan City, 235 learners out of 177 families or 694 individuals are using 4 classrooms in 1 school as ECs. With the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowering Taal’s status to Alert Level 3, DepEd said there are only four divisions in Region IV-A where classes at all levels remain suspended -- affecting 548, 672 learners in 1,010 schools. Breathing space Earlier, DepEd announced that the school calendar for schools affected by the Taal’s unrest has been modified to help ensure that the required number of school days are met. Briones said that the lowered alert status of Taal gives DepEd a “breathing space” and an “opportunity to catch up with what is lacking.” During this time, she noted that school personnel may do initial cleaning up - among others. DepEd, Briones added, also continues to trace its displaced learners and personnel. Latest DepEd data showed that a total of 536 personnel have been tracked in 272 ECs. Meanwhile, Briones said that DepEd has adjusted its school calendar to make up for the lost school days of affected learners. The DepEd Region IV-A, she noted, has already submitted a proposed modified school calendar which contains the necessary adjustment in the school days and other important activities. Due to the lost school days, Briones said that Taal-affected schools will be holding classes on Saturdays and Sundays. “We have a modified school calendar which will enable the affected schools to catch up,” she added. Amid requests to allow Taal-affected students to complete their respective grade levels or graduate without having to attend classes, Briones maintained that this may not be possible since “they have to comply with the requirements of the law” which states that for the SY 2019-2020, there should be 203 school days. As stated in the School Calendar for SY 2019-2020, the last day for the current school for public schools was originally scheduled on April 3, Friday. In the modified school calendar, the schedule for the final examinations has been adjusted. The School Year-end preparations, graduations, recognition and moving up may be scheduled between April 1 to 6. Briones also reiterated DepEd’s appeal to the local government units to provide multipurpose centers for victims of disasters instead of using schools as ECs to avoid further disruption of classes and delay in the school calendar.