Private investment in public schools up

THE Department of Education (DepEd) received P5.8 billion from the private sector for the construction of thousands of schools, purchase of teaching materials and scholarships.

The Adopt-A-School secretariat of DepEd continues to receive increasing proposition to donate from the private sector.

The January-October 2012 figure is up 70 percent from P3.4 billion compared to the same period last year. The bulk of the donation amounting to P1.7 billion will go to the construction of 3,184 classrooms.

Under DepEd’s Adopt-A-School program, private corporations and individual donors are invited to donate to public schools to bridge education resource gaps. In exchange, donors can avail of tax rebate from the government.

“Based on our experience, not all who donate avail of tax incentives. This proves that their bigger motivation is to give back to society,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Some of the support provided by the private sector to public schools are furniture, infrastructure including toilets, hand washing facilities, school stage, fence and drainage system, feeding program, computers and technology support, school supplies, training and development, health and nutrition, direct assistance to students and teachers and reading program. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)