215 makeshift classrooms to rise near Tacloban relocation sites

TACLOBAN CITY, June 16 (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) will build 215 temporary learning spaces (TLS) for thousands of learners, whose families were moved to the city’s northern relocation sites.

DepEd Tacloban schools division superintendent Thelma Cabadsan-Quitalig said it would cost PHP16.47 million for 32 temporary learning spaces will rise within the year and 183 more structures will be completed in 2017.

The provisional classrooms are intended for 1,440 learners this academic year and 8,235 students in the next school year.

“Educational needs of these children should not be disrupted. Our local initiative is to set up temporary learning spaces for them using some of our special education funds,” Quitalig said.

Ivannovich Agote, DepEd Tacloban disaster risk reduction and management coordinator said all available spaces will be used for the establishment of temporary learning spaces.

“There will a separate location for permanent classrooms construction and another for temporary learning spaces because it will be hazardous to children to construct buildings near TLS. The strategy is to make use of community spaces, parks and playgrounds as sites for the TLS,” Agote said.

The provision of temporary rooms for instruction is the DepEd’s short-term solution to provide basic educational needs of thousands of children, whose families were badly-hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

The department needs 21,897 square meters land area for provisional classrooms in the next two years.

As of this week, 27 TLS have already been set up in one the first housing project, the Ridgeview Park in Cabalawan village. Various non-government organizations shouldered the cost of some TLS.

The DepEd has gathered excess armchairs from other schools for use in resettlement sites pending the allocation of funds for furniture from the central office.

“We have asked the city government to consider the provision of temporary toilets and washing facilities as a priority. We raised the concern during the Regional Development Council to endorse a resolution to ask other partner agencies to allocate their savings for this purpose,” Agote said.

In the long term, the Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking a PHP768.93 million outlay to build 558 permanent classrooms for thousands of children, whose families were moved to the city’s northern relocation sites.

At least 10 new campuses will rise near resettlement sites, for an estimated 25,110 learners from families previously living in danger zones. (PNA)
BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO