MILF, indigenous peoples’ kids among those trooping to public schools Monday

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Children of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, Badjaos and indigenous peoples are among the 625,166 elementary pupils expected for Monday’s school opening in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ARMM Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan said a school building has been constructed near the MILF main lair, Camp Darapanan, in Maguindanao.

For the indigenous peoples, at least 30 preparatory schools are located all over South and North Upi, also in Maguindanao.

“We are designing different approaches for learning centers for the Badjaos. We will bring the education where they are now, even those on the streets, and we are hiring Badjao teachers too,” Kulayan said.

“We have recognized the needs of other groups and sectors. We are reaching out and working in partnership with the MILF for the education of their kids, including indigenous peoples in some areas,” Kulayan said.

He, however, admitted that although armchairs, blackboards, erasers and chalks have been distributed to the different schools, “we know it’s not enough at this time.”

There are 2,198 school buildings in the ARMM.

Kulayan said additional 1,500 classrooms would be constructed, “and we expect that in 2016 there will be no shortage.”

Some 25,000 teachers will be attending to the students in the ARMM.