738 schools to postpone start of classes — DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 738 public schools nationwide will have to postpone the scheduled opening of classes on Monday due to damage caused by Typhoon Carina and monsoon-induced rains and floods.

Based on data released by the Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday afternoon, 12,866 schools, located in 10 regions, were affected by the recent onslaught of Carina and the southwest monsoon. The affected regions include the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6 and 8.

Of the total affected schools, 246 were flooded while 425 schools are currently being used as evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, 738 public schools, specifically in Central Luzon, NCR, CAR and Soccsksargen, are deemed to be severely affected by the typhoon and thus cannot push through with the opening of classes on Monday.

A breakdown provided by DepEd showed that Central Luzon has the most number of schools that cannot start classes on Monday at 442, followed by NCR with 206 severely affected schools, CAR with 86 schools and Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN with four schools.

Bataan was the most affected, with a total of 208 schools deemed unable to open their classes on Monday, followed by Bulacan with 92 schools.

In the NCR, Valenzuela had the most number of affected schools that could not push through with the school opening on Monday at 71, followed by Pasig with 44 schools, Malabon with 42 and Marikina with 33.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara initially said that over 90 public schools nationwide had to defer the opening of classes due to damaged classrooms.

However, he was quick to add that the number is expected to increase later in the day as the DepEd was still waiting for situation reports of several regional directors.

He said DepEd is leaving it to the discretion of school heads in other affected regions whether to push through or to defer the opening of classes based on the situation in their respective areas.

Angara said public schools in Malabon City would open their classes on July 31, while Marikina and Valenzuela would start classes on Aug. 5, according to Mayors Marcelino Teodoro and Wes Gatchalian.

The DepEd estimated the total cost of damage at schools at P600 million with a total estimated cost of reconstruction at around P630 million.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) called for the postponement of the opening of classes by at least one week in all schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and other severely affected areas.

“While Brigada Eskwela was initiated last Monday, it has yet to be carried out in most affected areas. Training for the new MATATAG Curriculum has also been delayed due to the suspension of classes and government work… There is insufficient time for our schools to adequately prepare for the opening of classes on Monday,” the TDC said.

In a separate statement, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has slammed President Marcos over his insistence to push through with the opening of classes on Monday, saying that his instruction of holding classes even outdoors is “outright shameless and unbecoming of a president of a republic.”

In an interview with reporters on Friday, President Marcos said the DepEd and the schools must do everything that they can to push through with the opening of classes on Monday.

However, he clarified that it will still be “up to the school to decide” if the school officials want to push through with the school opening date.

At least 33,000 police officers will secure the opening of classes to ensure that students, teachers and school employees are safe, according to Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo. — Emmanuel Tupas, Helen Flores, Mark Ernest Villeza