A GROUP of teacher fellows from the Teach for the Philippines (TFP) are deployed in two elementary schools in Cagayan de Oro City to help in assisting students having trouble in reading and math.

Angel Ramos of the TFP said, eight teacher fellows are assigned in Macabalan Elementary School and Camaman-an Elementary Schools for about two years now.

Ramos said both of the students' needs in these schools are reading and the Math subject. She said their teacher fellows focus and allot more time to the students who need the help.

In Macabalan Elementary School, the organization has created an Aklatan sa Pantalan, a mobile library project as a substitute for a library room. The school is still building its library room.

Teach for the Philippines is a for-purpose, non-stock, non-profit organization that works to provide all Filipino children with access to relevant and excellent education.

Joel Lariba, principal of the Macabalan Elementary School, said one of the factors affecting a child's education growth is the support of the family.

Lariba said most of the family in Macabalan do not have a strong foundation and are usually imprisoned due to illegal drugs use, resulting to absences of the child in school.

“We are thankful that we are one of the beneficiaries of the program, we always welcome any help especially when it comes to improving the education for the kids,” Lariba said.

Lariba said the school has 67 teachers, which he said are enough to teach the 2,550 students of Macabalan.

The Macabalan school principal also hopes that the City Government can assist them in replacing their old classrooms which are subject for demolition.

“We have classrooms existing for more than 30 years already, all good for demolition so we hope they can help us in building more for the kids,” he said.

The school awaits new 20 classrooms but these are still under construction.