Cebu public schools ‘ready’ — DepEd

Public schools  in the Province of Cebu are ready for the opening of classes next week, said  Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Arden Monisit.

The pre-opening repairs and cleanup activities in “Brigada Eskwela” were held May 23 to 27 in  1,087 elementary and high schools in Cebu Province.

Tables, chairs and desks were also readied for the opening of classes on Monday.

Monisit said  parents cooperated in making sure schoolhouses would be conducive for learning.

Monisit also assured that there are  enough classrooms and that students won’t be holding class under the trees.

But with an expected 5 percent to 10 percent increase in enrollment each year, some classrooms will have more students than others, he said.

Monisit said school heads already know how to adjust by arranging  schedules to maximize classroom use.

The  Cebu provincial government builds 200 classrooms a year to address a shortage, he said.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said  100 more units are being built and that the Capitol would continue to give more.

The Province  allocated some P100 million for education. Aside from building classrooms, the Capitol  distributes  free school supplies to students and teachers in the rural areas.

On June 2, Monisit and DepEd officials will meet with the Cebu Provincial Police Office to discuss the safety of children in and off campus.

Last Feb. 8,  Ellah Joy Pique, a 6-year-old pupil of Naga City, was abducted  as she was walking home from school with friends.

Her body later turned up wrapped in a blanket and tossed over a cliff in Barili town, several kilometers away.

On Monday, DepEd supervisors will be monitoring schools to ensure that enrollment  continues although the process should be done in the principal’s office to avoid distracting teachers, who must be in their classrooms.

DepEd will also monitor whether the policy of “no collection” of school fees is observed.

Elementary and high school education is tuition-free in public schools in the Philippines.