Child rights group says Rolly-hit schools ‘back to zero’ in distance learning

A school in Catanduanes was ravaged by Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) that hit most parts of Luzon last week. /Educo Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — With school buildings damaged by Typhoon Rolly, teachers and students have been forced to restart and look for new materials for distance learning which is being imposed as part of measures to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Educo Philippines, a child rights organization, was alarmed after learning that printed modules and other school supplies needed for the blended learning of students had been damaged by the typhoon.

“This is going to be the worst year for most of the school children in areas worst hit by super typhoon Rolly. Less than a month since online classes resumed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, children are now back to zero in terms of distance learning. Aside from their homes damaged, they also lost most of their belongings such as printed learning modules and school supplies,” Shiena Base, Educo Philippines’ emergency response team lead, said in an e-mailed statement. Base also experienced the typhoon firsthand.

Base cited that most teachers and students found it hard to start again as even digital equipment was ravaged by Rolly, dubbed as the world’s strongest typhoon for 2020.

Apart from physical damage, the typhoon also caused distress and damage to the children’s wellbeing, Base also noted.

“I knew from the time of the landfall that the super typhoon Goni was going to devastate communities, it was a frightening experience for myself. This is difficult for many children who have already been through a lot this year,” she said.

Educo Philippines started distributing relief and dignity kits on Thursday to Guinobatan, Albay, specifically to communities affected by the volcanic flow due to the typhoon.

Rolly was classified as a super typhoon when it hit Tiwi, Albay last weekend. It was later downgraded into a typhoon.

Recent records from the government showed that at least 16 people were killed and three were reported as missing in the Bicol region during Rolly’s onslaught.

/MUF