Mandaue to build 51 classrooms, keep kids in school

HIS family can’t afford to buy kerosene to fuel their lamps, but Grade 5 student Rawie Coquilla isn’t discouraged.

“If I can just graduate, my family won’t be poor,” said Rawie, who sat with two classmates at the back of the Mandaue City Sports Complex yesterday.

The boys were among the 3,000 students listening to Mayor Jonas Cortes deliver his annual State of the Children’s Address.

Rawie, a student of Mandaue City Central School, said he was determined to finish his studies and help his family.

His mother earns a living as a seamstress while his father, who has a physical disability, is jobless.

Mayor Cortes said his administration is committed to providing education to Mandaue City’s poorest by expanding coverage of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and building more classrooms.

Cortes said the city government will complete 51 new classrooms through a partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation this year.

A new building will rise at the newly opened Tingub National High School, while another three-story six-classroom building is being built in the Banilad National High School new campus, Cortes said.

Cortes said the Security Bank Foundation will also partner with the city government in building a two-story six-classroom building in Basak Elementary School.

Cortes cited records from the Department of Education (DepEd) on the rise of enrollment in public elementary and secondary levels including kindergarten and daycare.

“Enrolling students is the first step in ensuring their future. But we also need to make sure that they are able to complete their levels. Circumstances force them to leave school to help their families,” Cortes said.

Cortes also said the city government is holding free tutorials through the City Social Welfare and Services (CSWS) for those who wish to avail of the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Mandaue City has 139 ALS students who passed the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to advance their grade levels.

“Keeping kids in school is vital for the future, not just theirs but the community as a whole,” Cortes said. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos