UNICEF helps in reopening of classes in Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - UNICEF personnel yesterday made the rounds of schools in Leyte in support of the back-to-school learning campaign of the DepEd and DSWD, during the official re-opening of classes in the Yolanda-hit areas in the province.

At San Roque Elementary School at Tanauan town in Leyte, out of about 750 schoolchildren, from kindergarten to Grade 6, only 422 were able to go back to their classes.

The UNICEF had set up three large tents as temporary classrooms for the returning pupils of this school, in addition to DepEd's two temporary learning rooms, made of plywood walls and tarpaulin roofing.

Books, bags, notebooks, papers and pencils were also distributed by UNICEF personnel to the pupils.

UNICEF-Philippines officer-in-charge Angela Kearney, for her part, said UNICEF's objective was to ensure that typhoon-affected children will "return to quality learning as soon as possible."

School principal Ma. Evelyn Encina confirmed that they have a problem on relocation site where a new permanent school building will be constructed. The present site is about 20 meters from the coastline, or within the declared permanent danger zone off Tanauan Bay.

Nine pupils of this school and a teacher, Lorna Roa Alamo, were among those confirmed casualties in the Yolanda devastation of Tanauan town.

Later in the afternoon yesterday, UNICEF went to other schools in Tacloban City for the same purpose.

The DepEd in Tacloban was expecting 85 percent of its 50,000 students to attend this year's first day of classes amid rapid rebuilding in the city due to the damage caused by Yolanda.

"We have to consider those na mga casualties, nag-transfer to other divisions and regions sa estimate natin," said Schools Division Superintendent Gorgonio Diaz Jr. in a phone interview with GMA News Online on Saturday.

He noted student attendees will increase in the following days since the Deped prepared for 2014's classes through clean-up drives and securing learning materials.

Only three out of 54 schools were spared when Yolanda hit the city last Nov. 8. The UNICEF, along with other organizations, has been helping with the repairs of over 200 classrooms in this city.

Eight schools are still being used as evacuations centers but the government already has plans to transfer the evacuees.

"All the 54 public elementary and secondary schools will be ready sa Jan 6. Yung ginagamit na evacuation centers will use the temporary learning spaces or makeshift classrooms," Diaz said, adding that the holding of classes shall be based on the situation, readiness, capacity and capability of the schools.  (FREEMAN)