Mobile classrooms built in Clark

Saturday, February 18, 2012

CLARK FREEPORT -- Who would ever know that mobile classrooms made of fiberglass are being made at this Freeport?

“For disaster-prone areas in Pampanga and where schools have to be repaired, these mobile and modular, self-energized classrooms would be the best solution. They have been tried in Mindanao and as far as Haiti,” said former Marine and paralegal Robert Wagner, director of the Wagner Foundation based in Clark.

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Wagner said the foundation is a United States non-profit corporation, which has been on the move to help Philippine education.

“Our mission is to supply rural government elementary schools throughout the Philippines, beginning on Mindanao, with modern educational equipment, food and clothing. We do this by dedicating profits generated through AEGIS, and from donations by private individuals, businesses and or institutional entities. We are a non-religious, non-profit organization, completely un-affiliated with governments or faith-based groups. We enhance the system of education that is already in place,” he said.

Each mobile classroom, he said, measures about 63 square meters -- good for some 40 students -- costs P850,000 and takes just two to three days to assemble.

“It is very safe, conducive, flood and fire-proof and is equipped with solar panels and LEDs (light emitting diodes) for energy. It can be moved from one point to another without much hassle. These rooms are so flexible they can be used for any purpose. Of course, ours is focused on education,” Wagner said.

With the mobile classroom, he said, comes training from the foundation.

“As part of our advocacy, we provide and train teachers on technology, equipping them with laptops. They then cascade this to their students. Based on our research, we found this to be a focal point of the problem in Philippine education. We have been here in the Philippines for the longest of years and we feel it’s time we help in solving problems like lack of classrooms,” Wagner said.

“It’s a tough start but we’re making headway, especially with the help of friends, government officials and media. I continue to hope and pray we could be partners in our desire to help children get good education,” he added.