BILIRAN, Biliran (PIA) – “From the scale of one to ten, we are at seven”, a top official of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Division of Biliran answered when asked on their readiness relative to the opening of classes including the first and full implementation of senior high school program of the government on June 13, 2016.
Dr. Carmela R. Tamayo, schools division superintendent, DepEd-Division of Biliran said that despite the challenges before the opening of classes for school year 2016-2017 especially with the first year of full implementation of senior high school program throughout the country, she is confident of hurdling the problems and implement the program accordingly.
The determined lady chief told government reporters during the PIA-Biliran faclitated press conference and one of the activities of the Brigada Eskwela 2016 regional and division kick-off ceremonies held at Biliran National Agricultural High School (BNAHS), Biliran town, that they are on the right track based on their plan minus some minor challenges they are facing relative to the opening of classes especially with the full implementation of senior high school.
Tamayo reported the deliveries of instructional materials and equipment for the K to 12 program to public elementary and secondary schools in the province of Biliran; the series of development and enhancement trainings to teachers for the K to 12 program; the latest actual enrolment status of enrolees vs the registered students for enrolment under the senior high school program; status of on-going construction of school buildings particularly the buildings that will be used by the senior high school students; and the near completion of teacher items for the senior high school program.
She further said that their latest data of enrolment as of May, 2016 for the senior high school is 1,846 as against the registered number of enrolees of 2, 727 which is still attainable since some students who enrolled at the Naval State University (NSU), the only university in Biliran province and other private secondary schools in cities plus the surplus of enrolees in some secondary schools in Biliran province offering senior high school program are not yet recorded.
As to the non-availability of some secondary school buildings that will be used by senior high school students for school year 2016-2017, Tamayo assured the public that they will use available rooms in secondary schools like gymnasium, principal’s office, computer room and other vacant rooms.
Additional funds are allocated in areas where the school buildings were redesigned because the construction site did not pass the soil testing conducted by the Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) in-charge of the construction of school building for the senior high school program in Biliran province.
This, according to Dr. Tamayo, is part of their contingency measures they have adopted to ensure smooth opening of classes come June 13.
She also presented to media the lacking teacher items particularly on the subject pertaining to beauty care where there are few takers. However, she said, she is now toying the possibility of hiring non-board passers but equipped with NCII qualifications from TESDA to address the teaching gap.
For her part, Atty. Rhoan Lucero-Orebia, assistant regional director representing Dr. Luisa Bautista Yu, regional director of DepEd, positively said to members of the government media that these challenges are not new based on their experience at the regional office in the implementation of the K to 12 program because they adopt alternative course of action or solution to a particular challenge as it arises along its implementation. # (fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)
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