Education under fire

The military is right: You can't set a deadline for ending the offensive in Mindanao, as proposed by some businessmen. This problem is centuries- old, with violence erupting intermittently, affecting all aspects of life in the Muslim areas. Apart from the casualties in body bags, this war is wreaking havoc in other ways. Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez said schools may not open this June in Basilan and other strife-torn areas of Mindanao. Classes may have to be put off indefinitely even in schools currently housing thousands of evacuees, he said.

Affected by this move are nearly half a million elementary and high school students not only in the strongholds of Islamic militants in Basilan, Sulu and Maguindanao but also in neighboring areas that have been the targets of terrorist attacks in recent weeks. These include the cities of Zamboanga, General Santos, Davao and Iligan. Gonzalez rightly pointed out that the government cannot risk the safety of both students and teachers, especially since Muslim rebels find school children perfect targets for hostage-taking.

Even a few months' delay in the school opening can be a serious setback. How can the children's education be saved? Gonzalez said schools in relatively peaceful areas may be asked to temporarily absorb the displaced students. This could pose a serious problem. Philippine schools are notoriously overcrowded, lacking qualified teachers and school supplies. In some areas, the lack of classrooms has forced school administrators to allow classes in the shade of trees. Can they make a temporary arrangement for tens of thousands of additional students? Makeshift schools can be set up in safe areas, where both the displaced students and teachers can hold classes. But how quickly and at what cost can such makeshift education centers be set up?

The other option is to put all schools in the conflict areas under heavy guard by the police and military. But soldiers and cops already have their hands full, battling rebels and terrorists of every sort. There is also no guarantee that rebels will not attack schools simply because soldiers and cops are posted as guards. In some instances, such guards may even serve as a magnet for terrorist attack, with students and teachers getting caught in the crossfire.

Providing education will be a continuing problem in the conflict areas, but the government must do its best to ensure that the displaced children do not fall too far behind in school. Education under difficult circumstances is better than no education at all.