THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Davao reported that it was able to establish a total of 199 public schools in the far flung areas across the region to serve the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
Based on the data provided by DepEd-Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo, a total of 58 elementary, 68 secondary, and 73 integrated schools spread out the entire region have been established to serve the Lumad communities. These schools were constructed since 2015 in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Mati City, Digos City, and Davao Occidental.
“[These were constructed] in far flung areas where there are also private learning institutions that serve the Lumad like Salugpongan, among others,” Atillo said.
He added that the number is expected to grow in the coming months and years since they are continuously establishing more schools in remote areas to make culture-based education more accessible to the IPs.
“These schools ... will be utilizing katong Indigenous People’s Curriculum, implementing the DepEd provision because these are our public schools,” he said.
Earlier, DepEd-Davao suspended the operation of 55 Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. (STTICLC), a private learning institution, after being accused of teaching anti-government ideologies to their Lumad students.
Due to the suspension, there are reportedly Salugpungan students who were not able to continue their studies while there are some who transferred to DepEd-run schools.
“Ang uban naga-ingon nga nag suspend ta unya walay mudawat nga skwelahan - that is not correct. There are 199 schools as of this date and counting. We will be establishing more in the months and days to come,” Atillo further said.
He added, “Gipaningkamotan nato nga madoble ang educational services pinaagi pod sa pag butang og mga schools sa area.”
Atillo said on Monday, the organizers of Salugpungan had already submitted their documents and answer to the allegations against them but Atillo refused to divulge the content of their reply pending investigation.
Based on their data, there were around 55 Salugpungan schools present in Davao region for the school year 2018-2019 but Atillo said that its leaders told him that there are 11 remaining schools to date.