In preparation for the opening of the incoming school year, a group urged the government to “immediately start” the renovation and repairs of damaged facilities due to the recent typhoon and weather disturbance that affected the country.
Taken during school opening for SY 2022-2023. (MARK BALMORES / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Kinakailangang mabigyang aksyon kaagad ang pagpapaayos ng mga sirang pasilidad para matiyak na mayroong ligtas at maayos na pasilidad ang mga guro at mag-aaral para sa darating na pasukan (It is necessary to take immediate action to repair the damaged facilities to ensure that teachers and students have safe and proper facilities for the coming school year),” Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Secretary General Raymond Basilio said in a statement issued Thursday, Aug. 3.
Basilio added that a conducive learning space has a great impact on teaching and learning. Given this, repairing facilities that were damaged during calamities should be one of the important factors that the government should prioritize.
Citing the monitoring of the Department of Education (DepEd) as of July 28, ACT noted a total of 169 schools in nine regions have been damaged by Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon.
The schools affected are from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region (NCR), Region I, Region II, Region III, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON), Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan (MIMAROPA), Region V, and Region VIII.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/31/p810-m-needed-for-169-schools-damaged-by-typhoon-egay-habagat-dep-ed
Citing a situational report for the combined effects of the “habagat” and typhoon Egay from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), ACT noted that 559 damaged classrooms from different regions were affected.
Still based on the NDRRMC report, ACT noted that as of Aug. 2, there are also “38 affected municipalities that have destroyed set of educational materials, computers, and armchairs.”
Basilio noted that ACT regional officers from the affected regions also met to discuss the situation in their respective areas. “We are concerned about the damage in the school facilities,” he said.
“We are certain that if it will not be addressed as soon as possible, it will be the teachers who will be burdened when they are also victims of the said typhoon,” Basilio explained.
ACT also expressed hope that classroom repairs will be addressed more urgently.
“DepEd responds poorly to ensuring that schools and facilities are repaired,” Basilio
Citing the annual audit report on DepEd of the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2021, ACT said that “only 23.45 percent were completed on its classroom repairs” and out of 11,468 classrooms targeted to be repaired, “only 2,689 were accomplished.”
Given this, Basilio said that the “government should also prioritize ensuring that facilities and buildings are ready and safe to be used for the incoming academic year.”
Classes in public schools for SY 2023-2024 will start on Aug. 29 as announced by DepEd.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/3/classes-in-public-schools-for-sy-2023-2024-to-start-on-aug-29-dep-ed