Enrollment and beyond, for barrio schools

Until the last day of the pre-enrollment, DepEd’s Armin Luistro and his subalterns had boasted that all systems go for the opening of classes. It turned out either a false painting of a bad scene, or a big lie, which they knew as a lie. Imagine, the high mentors turned out liars.

When June 6 enrollment opened throughout the archipelago, the sordid image it portrayed was confusion and chaos due to lack of classrooms, shortage of teachers, over-sized classes with pupils squatting on the floor, and other problems not expected or anticipated. This was true in cities and urban centers, that the DepEd people had not factored the increase of enrollees.

For instance, even in a mountain barrio in Cebu City there’s that barrio school with complete elementary, and yet, only two classrooms are available. TV shots in various localities nationwide sadly revealed the swelling classes as a rule.

It’s gratifying for barrio Cabadiangan without similar problems met by Principal Ireneo C. Tuñacao and his teaching staff of Master Teacher Rizza B. Bisnar and nine classroom teachers from Kinder to Grade Six, namely: Mrs. Mildred Y. Cabidoy, Mrs. Milagros C. Romanillos, Miss Rowena P. Tagalog, Mrs. Necostrata N. Abarca, Mrs. Richell R. Tenel, Mr. Nicolas B. Bughao,, Mrs. Noreen M. Narrita, Mr. Freddie T. Cabatingan, and Mrs. Rose W. Paqueo.

With an enrollment of 422 pupils ideally distributed that none is under or over-sized class and available classrooms accommodate all classes. Scanning the enrollment by section, the average size is 40 per class, the standard size, and fully-seated. The orderliness of the enrollment had already been taken care of long before June 6. In fact, the enrollment on June 6 was a mere formality to finalize the respective classes. The kindergarten is not new since some years before, there has been prep class for 5 years old.

Mr. Tuñacao has foresight and common sense, and attainable vision to establish an Integrated National High School for the poor children to attain higher education. Starting with Freshman class next year, for example, could be auspicious for opening without additional classroom. The problem, however, is the faculty of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education graduates with specific majors, say, English, Science, Mathematics, Filipino, History. For a start, one hinted that teachers now who are BSEED graduates could enroll in summer, in specific major subjects to augment their units earned in BSEED. Probably in three summers, they could qualify to teach part-time in high school, that is, if DepEd cannot provide the teaching positions now.

The principal has also enlisted outside aid, say, for additional two or three classrooms for a complete high school up to 4th year. The World Vision could be one source, or RAFI of the Aboitiz clan is another, which grants 70 percent of the project’s total cost. Sadly, the 30 percent could not be covered by the bankrupt Compostela, or by DepEd.

This isn’t that serious and one suggested to solicit from Governor Gwen F. Garcia for her intercession and graciousness. She has done it in Camotes Island LGUs wherein the benevolent Gwen undertook the 30 percent as set by RAFI. One also suggested to the Principal to write to civic clubs, like, the Jaycees, the Lions, the Rotary, etc. or well-funded NGOs to adopt the Cabadiangan Elementary School as their beneficiary. The school is just 5 kilometers from the national road, with an asphalted road, courtesy of Gov. Gwen F. Garcia, and the community is peaceful and cooperative, and has proudly produced many professionals now who could also be tapped.

As of now, the school needs a water system, although it has an artesian well, which is getting problematic in dry season. This used to be maintained by the CUB, an organization existing for 26 years that one nursed and nourished over the years. Anyway now, Randy Ong who has built his Red-Red’s Chicken House just a spitting distance yonder the school, has promised to provide the school a steady water supply for which the school is overly thankful.

Lastly, to the civic clubs and NGOs, including RAFI and other benevolent benefactors, one assures them that they would not regret choosing the Cabadiangan Elementary School should they embrace the “adopt a school” program which is truly a public service.