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THE usual host of problems attended the first day of classes in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday.
The problems ranged from children not finding their assigned classrooms to lost enrolment records for transferees.
At the City Central School on Apolinar Velez Street, students and parents began looking for their respective classrooms as early as 6 a.m. The City Central School has a population of some 8,000 students.
“The school is doing everything that it can to address the problems and needs of pupils and parents,” said Celso L. Pagulon, Principal III of City Central School, Monday morning.
While figures for the number of transferees were unavailable on Monday, Pagulon said he expects the number to rise because they are still accepting enrolees and transferees.
At the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS), more than 9,000 students are enrolled, but many more were still waiting to be accommodated.
Pura Gundaya Villar, MOGCHS officer-in-charge, said the school was prepared to deal with a bigger enrolment this school year.
Villar said a new building was built in cooperation with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the school’s Special Program for the Arts (SPA), the Special Program for Sports (SPS), and for Science and Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) classes.
Students and parents had similar problems at the Cagayan de Oro National High School as well.
Daisy Cabahug complained she could not find her daughter’s name in the list of enrollees.
“A neighbor’s child already had his designated section despite being a late enrollee but my child’s name could not be found,” Cabahug said.
School principal Dr. Gina Labitad said the school will continue to accept enrollees but priority for the use of the school’s facilities like chairs will be given to those already enrolled.
Labitad said the lack of chairs is a lingering problem for the school.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno said during the flag raising at City Hall Monday the City Government in cooperation with Department of Education (DepEd) will be donating classrooms to some schools.
Moreno said he will go ahead with the donation despite opposition from the city council.
"Bisan unsaon ug babag sa City Council, padayon lang gihapon ta," he said.
About 22 classrooms will be turned over to Macasandig National High School this week, 15 to East City Central, 41 to East Gusa National High School, and 14 to Pagatpat Elementary school.
Students in the nearby province of Lanao del Norte faced similar problems.
Grade 1 teacher Fe Fernandez said her section is already overcrowded.
Fernandez said each class ideally has 45 students, but the actual number usually goes beyond the recommended figure.
Students, however, remain upbeat despite the fresh challenges.
u2018We had our orientation on the rules and regulations this morning. And I am excited and happy for this school year. I am looking forward for the knowledge that I will acquire this year,” Grade 6 student Hannenie Galon said. (With Richel Umel/Mindanao State University-Marawi interns)