Friday, October 03, 2008 DepEd 7 to locate unused books
WORRIED over the reported P6.7 million worth of unused books in the region, the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 is now looking for the books.
“We are now conducting an inventory of all the textbooks in the region. We will be studying the textbook situation in the region and in the country. This will be in all subjects from grades one to six,” said Acting DepEd 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia.
The Commission on Audit (COA) noted in its annual audit report for 2007 that a total of 114,965 books worth P6,704,748.55 were left unused in Central Visayas.
Nationwide, a total of 1,275,056 books worth P57.3 million did not reach the hands of public school students.
“Interviews and verifications conducted revealed that most school principals did not comply with the Textbook Exchange Program and other cited issuances. Thus, inspection conducted showed unused and undistributed textbooks and manuals totaling 1,275,056 with a total cost of P57,341,280.55 still stored in libraries and storerooms in division offices, high school and elementary schools,” state auditors said.
They pointed out that most of the unused books are already obsolete and have become completely useless for classroom instruction.
Borgonia admitted that there are obsolete books in the region, but these are ready for disposal.
“The obsolete books that are approved for disposal will be burned,” said Borgonia.
He explained that the burning of obsolete and useless books is a normal practice of the DepEd, which does it annually. The schools will be the one to initiate the disposal of the books.
The schools, though, may not burn the books immediately. Instead, the schools and districts are required to seek approval from the COA and have the agency determine which books are obsolete.
Pending the disposal, books that are considered obsolete or unused are stored in the different school districts’ stockrooms, said Borgonia.
“We do not store them here (in the regional office), instead, the school districts are the ones that keep the excess books,” he continued.
DepEd 7 has yet to identify the districts that currently house last year’s excess books.
While the regional office looks for the unused books, new textbooks continue to arrive.
“We do not have old books here anymore. In fact, once the books arrive, we immediately distribute them. Right now, new books are arriving,” said Violeta Maravilla, officer-in-charge of Lahug Elementary School.
Lahug Elementary Schools is home of the 3rd school district’s book stockroom.
The DepEd 7 Supply Office has also received an additional shipment of new books. Robert Ragas of the Supply Office said the books would be distributed to the different school divisions.
Only new books are stored in the region’s Supply Office, while the old books are stored in the different districts, he added. (EPB)
