1

Luistro: Don't forget far-flung schools1

June 1, 2014
"[Far-flung] schools are as much a part of the educational system as any
public school in the city. But not too much attention gets focused on them.
As public school students head back to school on June 2, senior officials of
the Department of Education (DepEd) prepare to visit schools in rural areas to
show support and focus attention on places typically overlooked during the
opening of classes.
In a statement on Sunday, June 1, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said he
and senior officials would be deployed to various provinces to inspect the schools
and gather best practices.
He said schools in island and mountain areas and those that cater to children
with special needs should also be given focus and attention.
I feel that we always look at urban areas. But what about island and
mountain schools? Or schools that cater to children with special needs, indigenous
peoples, or Muslim learners? Theyre as much a part of the educational system as
any public school in the city. But not too much attention gets focused on them," he
said.
The education chief added, "We want to let teachers, principals and students
know that we have not forgotten them and that they are not alone."
Last year, Luistro visited schools in the former leper colony of Culion in
Palawanfor the opening of classes. This year, he is set to visit the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to show his solidarity with Filipino
Muslims.
Other DepEd officials were assigned to monitor schools in areas such as
Region VIII, Northern Luzon, and critical areas in Metro Manila.
Luistro said he preferred to visit schools in remote areas to know the unique
problems that plague these schools. While the lack of classrooms and chairs are a
persistent concern every year, Luistro said schools in far-flung communities face
other challenges.
"Since before I was in DepEd people have been used to hearing about chairs
and classrooms and late enrolees surging through gates. But there are other things
that need our attention. Last year I was in Culion in Palawan and their challenge
was how to get to the high school, which was on another small island," he said.
1 http://www.rappler.com/nation/59390-luistro-visit-remote-school-opening-classes. Accessed

on October 21, 2015.

BACK TO SCHOOL. Filipino grade school students attend the first day of
the new school year in a remote village in Rizal province, east of Manila,
Philippines, June 3, 2013. File photo by Dennis M. Sabangan/EPA
Opening of classes
More than 26 million public school students are expected to go back to
school on Monday, June 2. To ensure a peaceful and orderly opening of classes,
Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma called on the public to
exercise thebayanihan spirit and work together with authorities.
"Together with local communities, students, parents, and civic society, the
DepEd is preparing for the orderly opening of classes," Coloma said.
"We call on citizens to cooperate to ensure the safety of students on the
opening of classes. Let us work together to make sure our children, siblings,
relatives, and neighbors return to school safely," he added.
Coloma also said the Philippine National Police would help direct traffic and
impose order around school areas. Police assistance desks have also been set up for
added security.

SAFE, INCIDENT-FREE. The Philippine National Police are all set for the
opening of classes in June. File photo by Leanne Jazul/Rappler

Funds for new classrooms

To help address the annual problem of classroom shortage, the national
government allotted P335.4 billion to the education department for 2014.
Coloma said the budget allocated for DepEd jumped more than 71% from
the year the Aquino administration took office. He said the DepEd only had a
budget of P195.9 billion in 2010.
In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) said the government released P7.35 billion for the construction of
classrooms in public schools nationwide.
The funds will be charged against the DepEd's budget for Basic Educational
Facilities for the construction of 7,136 new classrooms in 4,007 places across the
country.
Of the number, 5,916 will be built in elementary schools, while 1,220
classrooms will be built in secondary schools.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad said the release of funds showed the Aquino
administration was committed to addressing the increasing number of enrollees per
year in public schools.
He said this was evidenced by the consistent allocation of the largest chunk
of the national budget for education.
Just because we closed the classroom gap doesn't mean we're going to sit
on our laurels. The Aquino administration is as committed as ever to ensuring that
our public schools can accommodate the increasing number of enrollees per year.
This latest fund release fulfills exactly that commitment," Abad said.
"When we equip our schools adequately for the school year ahead, we give
our schoolchildren a better chance at doing well in their studies. Teachers are also
able to deliver their lessons in an environment that actually facilitates learning, he
added.
The largest amount was released to the Bicol region (Region V) with P1.15
billion for 1,111 classrooms.
The second largest chunk of P960.8 million went to Region XII, for the
construction of classrooms in South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat,
Sarangani, and General Santos City.
Meanwhile, Region VII (Central Visayas) got P753.9 million for 710
classrooms.

DepEd said it would construct a total of 43,183 new classrooms this year to
address the increase in number of students and to better prepare for the
implementation of the K-to-12 senior high school program.
Aside from new classrooms, the following are also planned:

repair of 9,502 classrooms, not including those devastated by Super

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)

addition of 1.59 million new seats

construction of 10 new library hubs

employment of 33,194 new teachers and 1,500 teaching-related staff