Opening of classes in Marawi postponed as fighting continues

An evacuated child is carried by a Philippine soldier in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on May 31, 2017, as fighting between government forces and Muslim militants rages on the ninth day. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE

\The government has decided to postpone the opening of classes in parts of Lanao del Sur as the military continues to go after the remaining members of the Maute terrorist group.

Abella announced on Wednesday, during a Palace briefing, that Education Secretary Leonor Briones will be moving the opening of classes, which was initially set for June 5, to a later date.

In a media release, the Department of Education said, “classes in Marawi City is postponed—for two weeks at the most.”

Briones said it is for the safety of the people and “not because the schools will be used as evacuation centers.”

“The opening of classes in eight districts from Lanao del Sur, those nearest to the armed conflict, will also be postponed to further ensure the safety of learners and DepEd employees,” DepEd added.

This decision was made after Briones met with Mindanao DepEd officials in Cagayan de Oro.

DepEd said the affected schools may hold classes during the weekends to keep up with the school calendar.

Briones said they have already started mapping and taking note of which schools will be receiving more students as families flee towards safer cities. She said the transferees can easily enroll in another school with their “Learner Reference Number” since they might not have the necessary school records with them because of the emergency relocation.

Teachers who can also speak the local language and dialect will be deployed to schools that will accept the transferees.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law after members of the Maute group reportedly took over and burned down several buildings in Marawi City. Government security forces continue to conduct operations against the rebels who claim to be linked to the international terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. JE

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