MPSS FOR DEPED SCHOOL BUILDINGS

PATRICK GARCIA YALUNG

What makes a lasting impression on the community with regard to education?

According to the Department of Education, a well-designed school building does this – especially if it takes into consideration ergonomics, anthropometries, thermal comfort, illumination, ventilation, acoustics, color, and compliance with the law.

Over all, this would contribute to improved student performance too. The DepEd had earlier issued an Order on Establishing the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications (MPSS) for DepEd School Buildings to guide the Department and other stakeholders in the preparation of plans— architectural, structural, electrical, fire protection and sanitary— to ensure the comfort and safety of the would-be occupants of the school buildings.

The DepEd was vested with the authority, accountability and responsibility of ensuring access, promoting equity, and improving the quality of basic education with the passage of Republic Act. No. 9155, otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic Education Act”.

Issues on education have become more complex with the passage of time, which sees the need to synchronize, harmonize, and unify existing provisions on order to fast track the DepEd’s delivery of basic services.

This Order specifically aims to establish the acceptable minimum performance standards and specifications (MPSS) in the design of DepEd school buildings, whether single-storey, medium-rise or high-rise to be constructed in the various school sites across the country.

The MPSS will serve as the basic instrument of the Central and field offices as well as the stakeholders towards the standardization of school buildings wherever schools are located.

The Department believes that quality school buildings contribute greatly to the attainment of education goals.

This Deped Order provides for the establishment of MPSS in the design of the Department’s school buildings whether to be implemented by co-partners in government (DPWH) or by non-government agencies/ entities, such as foreign-assisted school building projects.

It covers such elements as architectural design standards, structural design standards as well as electrical design standards which may concern DepEd stakeholders within and outside the DepEd CO.

The Department established the MPSS in the design of DepEd school buildings to guide the Department and other stakeholders constructing school buildings in the preparation of plans – architectural, structural, electrical, and sanitary – to ensure the comfort and safety of the would-be occupants of the school buildings.

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The author is Secondary School Teacher III at Justino Sevilla High School, Arayat, Pampanga

LIEZEL T. BUNDALIAN

We all have to be active every day. Physical activity stimulates growth and leads to improved physical and emotional health. Physical activity like exercise is also known to relieve stress. Because it releases the toxins in our body every time we sweat. Most of us experience stress, depression and anxiety. And because exercise improves health, a physically fit person is more likely to be well-rested and mentally sharp.

But there is a physical activity that is better than just an ordinary exercise, it is engaging to sports. Sport is an important learning environment for everyone. Because sport gives a person more than just physical well-being it also contributes to social health, mental health and psychological development.

When it comes to physical health sport helps us to develop cardio-vascular fitness, muscular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility, it also helps us to circulate our blood properly and it helps us improve our immune system. Sport can develop social health, because you are socializing with different people who possesses different personalities.

With sports you will learn how to get along with different people. One way to be accepted by peers is to be good at activities valued by others. Being good at sports is a strong social asset. Sport can help us to improve our mental health. Because in sport we’re able to learn, think and grow intellectually.

And lastly sport helps us to develop our psychological or emotional health. Because we’re able to appropriately express and control emotion. We will learn on how to handle our emotions by learning to accept defeat and celebrate victory during sport competitions. Sports can also affect our development of self-esteem and self-worth.

That’s why it is really essential for us to engage in sports. It just doesn’t help us to improve our physical health but all the aspects of our life.

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The author is Teacher III at Dolores National High School