PALO, Leyte—Education officials in the Yolanda-battered province of Leyte assured the public that there would be no more classes to be held inside tents in the coming school year, which will begin June 1.
Leyte Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo said they are prepared for the opening of classes after the super typhoon levelled most schools in November 2013.
“We are already about 90 percent complete in rehabilitation…so far, almost all schools have been given repairs or new constructions. ” Firmo told The Standard.
Around 900 schools in the Leyte Division, the biggest in the country, were affected by Yolanda, 500 of which were partially or totally damaged. For many months after the typhoon, classes were held in makeshift classrooms and tents.
“We have received about P80 million new funding from the national government, and repair assistance from various non-government organizations continues,” Firmo added.
International and Philippine-based non-government organizations have been repairing damaged schools and constructing new, storm-proof classroom buildings in the province.
Firmo also called on the public to help the Deped on its Brigada Eskwela program from May 18 to May 22. Brigada Eskwela involves maintenance and cleanup of schools a few days before the school year starts.
The education official also said they were “very much ready” for the implementation of the K to 12 program next year, with the first batch of students entering Grade 11 (senior high school) in 2016, adding that many people were still misinformed about its advantages.