DepEd asks public: Support school opening programs

Officials of the Department of Education are asking the public to cooperate in the "BrigadaEskwela" and "OplanBalikEskwela" programs in preparation for the opening of classes in June.

Cebu City Schools Division superintendent Dr. BianitoDagatan together with City of Naga Division superintendent Dr. Gregorio Cyrus R. Elojorde,and Assistant Schools Division superintendent of Cebu Province Dr. Leah Apao urged the various stakeholders to help.

"Kinahanglan ta manginlabot, mo partisipar ta's mga kalihokan aron matagaan gyud nato'g kalidad nga edukasyon ato'ng mga kabataan. Dili lang physical aspects atong pangandamon…but in all aspects. Hinaot pa unta nga kitang tanan magtinabangay," Dagatan said.

DepEd officials are expecting one to two percent increase in the number of students this school year. Cebu province has estimated 800,000 new students in all levels while Cebu City estimated between 175,000 to 176,000 new enrollees.

Dagatan said the city division is hiring about 700 new teachers to cope up with the need for additional mentors. Cebu province, on the other hand, will have 2,253 new teaching items to be distributed in all public schools.

Classes for public elementary, junior and senior high schools will start on June 4. All private schools are given the discretion on whether to start classes this June or August. —

Kris Imea C. Ruales, UV Intern/FPL