Thursday, February 07, 2008 DepEd reviews food aid to help children learn better in school
TO TURN around the low performance in English of at least 1,850 elementary and 250 high schools in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) included in its work plan the “food for school” program (FSP) or feeding assistance for students.
Four elementary schools and one high school from Cebu Province are included in the lowest 10 performing schools in English in Central Visayas—not in the country, as reported last Monday.
The FSP is part of one of the strategies in the intervention package for students, presented in a Cabinet meeting last year and approved by President Arroyo.
However, DepEd still has to answer the text messages and anonymous calls they received through their DETEXT messaging service, regarding alleged leaks or irregularities in the distribution of rice to beneficiaries under the FSP.
Intervention
The FSP was launched in 2004 as an intervention program to address hunger among preschoolers, day care pupils and grade school students.
Bohol and Negros Oriental are the identified beneficiaries of FSP in Central Visayas.
Bohol is targeted to receive over 48,000 sacks of iron-fortified rice, while Negros Oriental will receive more than 6,000 sacks for school year 2007 to 2008.
Accountability
After disclosing in an order dated Jan. 14, 2008 that the department has received text messages and anonymous calls regarding alleged leaks or irregularities in the distribution of rice, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus directed regional directors and schools division superintendents “to oversee effective and efficient implementation of the FSP.”
DepEd Regional Director Carolino Mordeno assured that there are no reported alleged leaks or irregularities of the FSP in Central Visayas.
These leaks, he said in an earlier interview, “could be that the rice given out to a child is not exactly one kilo or the distribution is not regular.”
While principals or heads of FSP recipient-schools are accountable for program operations, Mordeno explained that the FSP is carried out not only by DepEd but also with its partner-agencies.
For example, the National Food Authority is authorized to ensure timely delivery of rice to target recipients, while the Department of Interior and Local Government is tasked to ensure the cooperation and support of local government officials.
Should there be an irregularity in an FSP activity reported to them, Mordeno said they will immediately investigate it.
Sanctions
Lapus already warned that any violation of the FSP’s guidelines will warrant administrative sanctions against school heads or principals and other teachers who are directly or indirectly involved in the irregularities.
“Such violations of the school head or principal and teachers shall be dealt with administratively after due notice and hearing, and (they shall) also be liable both criminally and civilly when such violations warrant,” he said in a statement.
Lapus formed an independent task force of representatives from DepEd and other government and non-government organizations to be led by DepEd Undersecretary Vilma Labrador.
Its task is to resolve issues concerning leaks, coverage, targets and funding. (NRC)
