Transport strike fails to disrupt school opening

ILOILO CITY—Millions of students in the Visayas returned to school on Monday despite a transport strike that hit key areas in the region.

But students again had to face a shortage of classrooms and school equipment.

In Western Visayas, Monday’s school opening registered an attendance of at least 90 percent, said Ma. Gemma Ledesma, Department of Education (DepEd) regional director.

Ledesma said the strike had little impact as most schools were within walking distance from the students’ houses. Those going to school also availed of free rides offered by government vehicles.

She said the shortage of classrooms was addressed by using vacant classrooms in neighboring schools.

Parents also bought plastic chairs for their children to augment those in schools.

In the Negros Island region (NIR), the return of 1.1 million public school students to school went smoothly despite the transport strike, said Gilbert Sadsad, DepEd NIR director.

Sadsad said classes in public schools opened amid the failure of the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete the construction of about 500 classrooms, including 400 in Negros Occidental province, and the lack of vocational equipment needed for teaching senior high school.

Lack of teachers plagued the opening of classes in Eastern Visayas as schools still could not achieve the ideal one-teacher-to-35 students ratio due to increasing enrolment.

In Albay province, hundreds of students in Ligao City spent the first day of classes in temporary learning spaces, like tents and gymnasiums, due to the shortage of classrooms. —REPORTS FROM NESTOR P. BURGOS JR., CARLA P. GOMEZ, JOEY A. GABIETA AND MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN