Orderly but…. Students greeted by same problems

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Education Central Visayas Director Carmelita Dulangon described yesterday’s opening of classes as orderly except for the old perennial problems like lack of classrooms and teachers.

About 1.6 million high school and elementary students yesterday trooped to different school campuses all over the region.

 â€œHapsay ang opening of classes. The teachers and school officials had a short opening program to welcome the pupils and students,” Dulangon said.

 Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud conducted a roving inspection yesterday morning as the classes opened to personally assess the conditions in schools.

 â€œNindot ang turnout sa mga bata. Daghan ang atong estudyante,” Angtud said.

Despite the early enrollment program of DepEd, there were several parents who only enrolled their children yesterday while classes have already started.

Angtud said she is projecting a three percent increase in this year's enrollment because some students from calamity-stricken provinces are transferring to Cebu City.

To address the classroom shortage, Angtud said that school principals have already developed ways to maximize the meager resources by doing shifting sessions as well as utilizing non-teaching rooms.

“Each principal has his/her own way of coping with this perennial problem. The principal already knows what to do,” Angtud said.

In Lahug Elementary School, Dr. Joelyza Miguel-Arcilla, principal, said she has divided the students into two shifts to accommodate the more than 6,000 enrollees.

The shifting of classes, however, is applicable only to grades one, two, and three.

  â€œHopefully by July, ma-whole day na ang grade three kay naa man gud ta’y on going nga construction," she said.

 The school has currently 106 classrooms and there are 16 classrooms under construction intended for the grade six students.

 â€œAng ratio namo karon is 1:50 students pero sa kinder kay 1:25 and the special Science class is 1:35,” she said, adding that the school has currently 148 teachers.

In Mabolo, at least 3,000 students started coming to class yesterday. School principal Donald Crisologo said the number is lower compared to last year's enrollment but expect additional enrollees within the week.

He said the school is still open to accept late enrollees within this week, especially those transferees from areas affected by calamities.

Firetraps

At least 40 schools in Cebu City are considered firetraps for lack of emergency exits.

Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella, however, said there are already contractors who are “willing to make an emergency construction in these schools while the papers are being processed.”

“Better late than never. We have to do something about it. Hunongon na lang nato ang pagbinasolay. Ang defect gyud ana kay the very time nga it was constructed. (But) let’s not talk about it anyway it’s already there mao na lang we have to learn a lesson,” Labella said.

“The next time that we have construction that (emergency exit) should be the first thing to be considered,” he added.

Among the schools considered fire trap are Abellana National School, Cebu City Central School, and both elementary and high school buildings of Barangay Guadalupe.

These schools were identified by Local School Board chairman, Joey Daluz III, as among the priority schools.

The city government has already allocated P22 million to construct emergency exits in these schools.

Officials of the city government from the Cebu City Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu City Police Office, and Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement team conducted a survey yesterday.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Risk Reduction and Management Office, said there were only two minor accidents involving students that were reported yesterday.

  One accident was a mother and a child fell on a septic tank in Pardo Elementary School.

 â€œSo wala ni siya maayo pagkatabon siguro. Naay sud. Nagkahugaw lang ni sila. Gamay ra man kaayo ang garas,” he said.

Tumulak said they are already tracing the contractor of the said septic tank and will be held liable for the accident.

 Another was a vehicular accident in Don Vicente Rama Street where a student suffered minor injury.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children has reminded teachers who are considered to be the 'second parents' of their duty in protecting and looking after the welfare of their students.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, co-chairman of the PCWC, said that teachers should always control their temper so as to avoid cases of physical abused to students, adding that being pressured in work is not an excuse to commit such act.

“Well, I think wa man nagkulang ang Department of Education sa pagpahimangno nga di na mahimo, hinaot di kalimot ang mga teachers. Although maluoy sab ta ana nila kay overworked, init silag ulo but dili na rason,” she added.

She warned that once cases of physical abuse are reported, the role of PCWC would be in place by helping the parents of the abused children in the filing of appropriate cases in court.

In February this year, 10 pupils were allegedly beaten by a public school teacher in Basak Elementary School in Badian. The teacher is now facing criminal complaint before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office. — Jessa J. Agua, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, Mechelle P. Florita, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, and Jose P. Sollano/FPL