ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Santa Barbara Central School here recently received a new two-story, fully equipped four-classroom school building from SM Foundation, its 109th school building built so far nationwide.
There are 3,000 enrollees and 99 percent are Muslim students from Barangays Santa Barbara, Rio Hondo, Marique, and Kasanyagan.
School Principal Annalia dela Zerna-Martin said aside from the 72 regular teachers, there are 18 teachers under contract with the Madrassah Educational Program of the Department of Education.
This program teaches Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education and the school is the pilot school of the program.
Each classroom is equipped with electric fans, toilets, wash basins, a curvex whiteboard, teacher’s table and chair, and students’ chairs with a special provision for left-handed student. These chairs were made by PWDs who have been contracted by SMFI to provide them livelihood.
On the ground floor of the building is a toilet for PWDs, a clinic, a mini-library, and a room for arts and music. Outside of the building is a handwashing facility for the students.
SMFI officials led by Linda Atayde, Executive Director for Education. and SM MinPro Executive Director Arthur Pee Jin To officially turned over the building to Dr. Basilio Uy of DepEd-Zamboanga City, Martin, Dr. Elga Jarlega, DepEd-District Supervisor, Barangay Capt. Ustadz Jumad Musa, and SPTA President Nidznalyn I. Kasim.