Saturday, October 11, 2008 Classroom accident prompts call to insure public school students
THE parents of a public school student who suffered third-degree burns during a class experiment sought Cebu City Hall’s help in paying for her hospital bills.
Following the incident, an insurance system for public school students was proposed.
Jovy and Herman Donadillo appealed to some city councilors for help, saying they could not afford the treatment of the burns on their daughter’s face, neck, arms, legs and thighs.
Christy Joy, 15, and her classmates were reportedly working on an experiment during their chemistry class at the Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School when the chemicals came in contact with her skin.
Who’s responsible?
City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said they will find out how the incident happened, who was responsible for it and if there was negligence on the part of the school officials.
He assured, though, that the City will pay for the hospital bills and the medicines.
“The City Government will foot the bill, the City will shoulder their expenses, but we will also check why it happened in the school and who is responsible for it,” Carillo told reporters yesterday.
Christy Joy was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) immediately after the incident happened last Sept. 17, and was later transferred to Cebu Doctors’ Hospital when her condition did not improve.
Renato Villagonza, the former president of the Cebu City Parents-Teachers Community Association (PTCA), brought the student’s case to the attention of the city councilors.
Safety review
He said that it is the responsibility of the school and the City to help the Donadillo family since the incident happened inside the school premises.
In a letter, he asked for an independent investigation in aid of legislation to prevent similar accidents.
“This could also be a good time to review the safety procedures and measures in our public schools. It is also the right time that an insurance system is implemented and may be handled by either the PTCA or the government,” Villagonza said. (LCR)
