Maguindanao burned school supported, say

A SCHOOL in the town of Talitay, Maguindanao received an outpouring of support from various organizations after a fire razed four of its classrooms.

Mohagher Iqbal, minister of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led the special Brigada Eskwela at Pageda Elementary School on Monday, 24 June 2019.

Hundreds participated in the Brigada Eskwela including – for the first time – uniformed personnel from the Armed Forc(es of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.

Iqbal handed over temporary learning spaces (TLS), 12 blackboards, handwashing facilities, and hygiene kits to the school

during the activity.

He also distributed learning materials, school bags, and educational toys to schoolchildren.

For its part, the local government of Talitay delivered some construction materials and provided manpower with the help of the Schools Division of Maguindanao 2 and community members.

“I would like to assure our parents here that their children will not be left behind,” Iqbal said, adding the education of their children must continue.

Iqbal also thanked UNICEF Philippines, Save the Children Philippines, and the Australian Government through its Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao Program for providing assistance.

He said the Kadtuntaya Foundation, a local non-government organization based in Cotabato City will provide psychosocial services for the schoolchildren.

While the fire incident is still under police investigation, Iqbal reminded the community that a school is a zone of peace.

“As a community, one of our priorities should be to establish a safe and nurturing learning environment for our children,” he said.

The ministry will be allotting a budget for the school’s new classroom building in the next fiscal year.