Thursday, June 12, 2008
Figures still lower than last year’s enrolment: DepEd
WHILE many children failed to report on their first day of classes, seven-year old Stephen Joy Villamor could not wait to go to school.
“Excited ko,” he told Sun.Star Cebu. Yesterday, he said they were already writing in class and tackling the basics in Math and English.
But apparently, not all school-aged children shared Stephen’s excitement.
While the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 predicted that 90 percent of the 1.3 million students in Central Visayas were already in school last Tuesday, the enrolment level still did not come close to last year’s enrolment record.
“We have not even reached the enrolment level of last year,” said DepEd 7 Assistant Director Recaredo Borgonia.
Borgonia, however, said this was nothing to be alarmed about since it was normal for students not to turn up on their first few days of classes.
Extended vacation
“Students want to continue with their vacation, while other students may still not be interested to go school,” Borgonia said.
While enrolment levels as of the opening of classes have failed to reach the level of last school year, more students attended the recent opening of classes compared to last year’s school opening.
“The turnout on the first day of classes was much better than last year, though,” Borgonia told Sun.Star Cebu.
Children may still enroll in their respective schools until the end of the month.
Yesteray, DepEd 7 officials met with superintendents of each division to discuss reports on the progress of the opening of classes in their schools and their division.
DepEd 7 said there were no major problems presented at the meeting. They did receive reports, however, that fees were collected from some students.
Fees
Teachers were not to blame this time. Rather, it was the Parents, Teachers Community Association (PTCA).
“We have reports that the PTCA collected fees, but these incidents were properly addressed by the superintendents,” said Borgonia.
Borgonia added that the reports of PTCAs collecting fees were “negligible in number, with one or two” reports received.
Another concern raised to the department was the desire of parents to have their children wear uniforms.
Stephen’s mother, Dinah Villamor, 40, said she shared the same sentiments with most parents that schoolchildren should wear uniforms.
“Mas nindot man gyud maguniform. Mas neat tan-awon ang bata, mas limpyo (It’s better for the children to wear uniforms. They look neat.),” she told Sun.Star Cebu.
Not prohibited
President Arroyo earlier scrapped the uniform policy among all public school students in hopes of saving on school expenses.
Villamor, however, said that with no uniform it would mean parents have to buy more clothes for their children.
“Dapat na hinoon mi mopalit ug sanina para sa mga bata (We will have to buy clothes),” she said.
Borgonia, however, clarified that students were not prohibited from wearing uniforms in school.
“There is no prohibition, only it is not required to wear uniforms,” he said.
As students were still expected to enroll in schools within the month, the need for additional teachers and classrooms were not yet felt, said Borgonia.
“Wala pa man, kay wala pa ta na-abot sa enrolment level. The need is not yet felt,” he added. (EPB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 12, 2008 issue)
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