1.2M public school students in CV to start school on Monday

The Department of Education expects at least 1.2 million elementary and secondary school students to troop to more than 3,500 public schools in Central Visayas for the first day of classes on Monday. Classes in public schools and in some colleges and universities for school year 2006-2007 will open next week in many parts of the country.

DepEd regional director Carolino Mordeno said that they are expecting a two percent increase in last year's number of enrollees in the elementary and a four to five percent increase in last year's number of enrollees in the region's secondary schools.

Mordeno assured that security plans for "Oplan Balik Eskwela" have been encapsulated wherein crime prone areas especially those near schools will be guarded as he also assured police visibility to prevent petty crimes such as snatching and holdup.

He said that school authorities have been working closely with the police and the local leaders since last month to ensure proper responses to peace and order concerns.

The Police Regional Office-7 has also announced its readiness for the opening of classes in public elementary and secondary schools on Monday.

In a weekly Kapihan sa PIA yesterday, PRO-7 administrative officer Ferlina Comeros bared contingency plans for the opening of classes in the region.

"We must ensure the safety of the children in schools," Comeros said.

They are organizing civilian volunteers especially in the urban areas to assist in the manning of traffic in the children's crossing.

Comeros said that civilian volunteers will be mobilized to report to them any untoward incidents in school areas, this in coordination with school authorities.

But unlike Manila, Mordeno said that Region 7 will less likely be facing the usual problems like shortage of classrooms, books, desks and the lack of teachers, because of the support that they are getting from local government officials and parents.

Mordeno said that in Cebu city, classroom shortage will never be a problem already for it is the main focus now of the city government. The city also has more than its required supply of chairs for this year. Mordeno also said that they have already made renovations on dilapidated and old buildings through the Brigada Eskwela with the help of the community and some organizations.

As for books, he mentioned that DepEd is already on its way of targeting the 1:1 ratio of books. In July, books in some subjects will be distributed to students. - Jasmin R. Uy and Gregg M. Rubio