Eleven years after Typhoon "Yolanda" ravaged the Philippines, a school in Leyte continues to rely on temporary learning spaces, highlighting the disaster's long-term impact on the region’s educational infrastructure.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the Department of Education (DepEd), led by Secretary Sonny Angara, visited schools in Leyte to assess the implementation of digitalization programs and identify gaps in facilities.
DepEd visited St. Francis Elementary School, which was severely affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Despite various recovery initiatives, some schools continue to face significant challenges in rebuilding, leaving students and educators to make do with makeshift classrooms.
"The school is currently experiencing gaps in facilities and classrooms, as it is housing 547 learners in Temporary Learning Spaces," DepEd said.
Angara, along with the agency’s Executive and Management Committee members, monitored schools in Leyte as part of DepEd’s ongoing efforts to address challenges on the ground.
In a statement, DepEd said Angara met with teachers at Leyte National High School (LNHS) in Tacloban City. LNHS is the largest secondary school in Eastern Visayas, currently serving 8,954 learners.
In coordination with the Provincial Government of Leyte, led by Gov. Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla, the officials also monitored the implementation of the digitalization program at Cogon Elementary School.
Angara concluded his visit to Leyte with a stop at Alang-alang National High School, where he observed a Khan Academy demonstration as part of the agency's initiative for the upcoming Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
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DepEd also visited the Girls' Education Center in Palo, Leyte, which houses the first and only education hub for the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
The initiative is part of the "Better Life for Out-of-School Girls to Fight Poverty and Injustice in the Philippines" project, a collaboration between DepEd, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Angara, along with other ExeCom members, will meet with the Regional Directors on Nov. 12 in Tacloban City to discuss various DepEd programs.