Tuesday, April 22, 2008 USAid to donate classrooms in Mindanao By Ryan Rosauro Correspondent
ILIGAN CITY -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) through its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS2) project teamed up with Petron Foundation recently in an effort to build 120 classrooms and rehabilitate 480 others in public elementary schools in Mindanao.
According to Joel Espijo, communications manager of USAid-EQuALLS2, the classrooms project is in response to the classroom shortage across many parts of the country.
The tie-up between USAid and Petron Foundation was firmed up during the signing of a memorandum of agreement last April 14 in Makati City, Espijo said.
Espijo added that the partnership hopes to alleviate classroom shortages and improve access to basic education in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
The project is expected to cost $US2.5 million and will be financed by a contribution of $1.25 million each.
The USAid-Petron partnership will equip new and refurbished classrooms with water and electricity, an average of 25 school desks each, plus teachers' tables and chairs, blackboards, cabinets, fans, clocks, and toilets.
USAid has conducted an assessment on the need for new classrooms in communities in Mindanao based on current and projected enrolment data in relation to the existing number of classrooms.
The EQuALLS2 assessment has identified areas for construction and rehabilitation across 35 municipalities and four cities in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm), Region 9, and Region 12.
Espijo explained that the Department of Education (DepEd) has committed to maintain the school buildings after the construction and refurbishment.
"DepEd is also expected to fast track the hiring of new teachers in Regions 9 and 12 to complement the classroom construction and rehabilitation efforts," he pointed out.
The classroom construction program is one component of the USAid-funded EQuALLS2 project, which seeks to improve access to basic education for Mindanao's elementary school children and out-of-school youth.
The project also seeks to train 24,000 teachers in English proficiency, reading, math and science; functional literacy and livelihood training for 100,000 out-of-school youth; the provision of books and learning materials for elementary schools; and capacity-building for 700 Parent Teacher Community Associations.
