In ARMM, graduation even in evacuation sites
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – Education officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Saturday said graduation ceremonies would be held in 11 Maguindanao towns, which are affected by the all-out war against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, even if it meant doing it inside evacuation centers.
Jamar Kulayan, secretary of the ARMM’s Department of Education, said he was not inclined to suspend the graduation ceremonies.
“Tentatively, commencement exercises are scheduled on March 25 to 28,” he told reporters here.
Adulatip Tandel, principal of Timbangan Elementary School here, said the school’s pupils are also optimistic about their graduation rites that they have been attending practices regularly.
Dilapidated hall
Tandel spoke to reporters here as some 100 graduating pupils made use of the dilapidated covered multipurpose hall as they rehearsed for the commencement exercises of the school.
The rehearsal was conducted as some 1,200 evacuees also watched.
“Our classes here continue with the evacuees vacating classrooms during the day and reoccupying them at nighttime,” Tandel said.
Across the 11 towns affected by the all-out war, Kulayan said at least 19,000 pupils and students had been displaced and were unable to go to school.
“I hope all these evacuations are over before our graduation rites so that we will be happy as we march to the stage,” said Bai Allysa, one of the graduating pupils.
“I’m excited to graduate,” she added.
Enough food
Kulayan also said the National Achievement Test for graduating students went on smoothly on Thursday.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the regional government was also making sure that displaced pupils and students had enough food to support them in their classes and school activities.
“We are managing the evacuation centers. Representatives of government agencies are present in every evacuation site to attend to the IDPs’ (internally displaced persons’) needs, especially health and sanitation,” said lawyer Laisa Alamia, chair of the ARMM’s humanitarian team. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao
