THE local government unit of Sta. Cruz launched a public tertiary school in the municipality on October 5, said the Tourism and Investment Promotion Officer of Sta Cruz Julius Paner.
During the One Davao virtual presser on Friday, October 7, the Sta. Cruz College of Arts, Sciences and technology would be the first public tertiary education institution in the municipality.
“There were mixed reactions from the general public because this is the very first time na makagahin na gyod og igong resources para dinha (that we would have the resources for a college school),” Paner said.
Mayor Jose Nelson Sala Sr. has formed a technical working group to process the needed requirements to open the school formally. The local government hopes to start offering programs in time for the next school year.
Paner said government employees are conducting a survey or profiling the youth population of the barangays in Sta. Cruz to know which college programs are in-demand and should be offered at the institution.
“Didto na nato makita kung unsa na programa nga haon para sailaha based sa needs sa katawhan (We would be able to determine which programs the students would need). Dili pwede na mag introduce ta og programs na dili na kailangan, daghan na naga-offer, o dili ma-afford sa katawhan (We can’t intriduce a program that is not in-demand or is already offered by many other schools, or an unaffordable program),” he said.
Undergraduate or Bachelor’s degrees could be offered, as well as technical and vocational programs. Paner said this is also in line with the LGU’s initiative to produce more degree holders and skilled workers to join the local labor force.
“Naa’y standing policy karon ang LGU na dapat 70 percent of the total manpower sa atong mga kompanya, gikan sa (The LGU has a policy that at least 70 percent of the total manpower should be locals from) Sta. Cruz but unfortunately, dili mag qualify (they do not qualify). Duna’y participation atong labor force sa mga kompanya during construction period pero pag actual operation na sa ialng business, wala na makatrabaho, gamay na lang kaayo ang mga taga Sta. Cruz (They are usually only employed for construction work),” Paner said,
He added that majority of the locals in Sta. Cruz is only employed for construction projects but is usually overlooked for blue-collar and office jobs.
Thus, prioritizing tertiary education will, in turn, intensify the gap in human resources in the municipality.
Aside from the Sta. Cruz College of Arts, Sciences and Technology, the LGU is also allocating more resources for other educational programs including funding for operations of primary and secondary schools, and funding for teachers and personnel.
Paner said the needed resources will be given to the LGU from the Department of Education.
“Tungod sa kadaghansa mga kompanya nga naa sa Sta. Cruz, nidako among eal property tax (Because of the increasing companies here in Sta. Cruz, our real property tax also increases). Once mudako na, mudako man pud ang (In turn, it increases the) local school board fund or special education fund,” Paner said. ICM