The Department of Education (DepEd) has called
on big private companies to donate school desks for students displaced by the
on-going clashes in Marawi City.
Education
Secretary Leonor Briones said they have established learning spaces in
evacuation centers through the help of the United Nations (UN) and other
donors, but they need desks to facilitate comfortable learning among
children-evacuees.
She
admitted it would take time to purchase school desks under the government
procurement procedures.
Briones
also disclosed that DepEd is preparing for the Brigada Eskwela Para sa Marawi. She
said they have chosen a school where they would gather resources and materials
for the repair of affected schools in Marawi.
According
to her, six schools in Marawi and nearby areas were destroyed, three were razed
while the other three damaged by crossfire.
The
Education Secretary meanwhile assured affected teachers that they will continue
to receive salaries while school opening in Marawi is still on hold stressing
that the crisis is not their own making. She said the Philippine Public School
Teachers Association will also offer loans in ‘very generous terms.’
Displaced
teachers will also be given psychosocial assistance to help them re-establish
sense of normalcy. “They have to deal with the trauma.., they can only help the
school children if they themselves are also helped,” she said.
While
waiting for the go signal from military authorities, Briones further urged
parent-evacuees to send their children to the nearest school so that their
studies will not be interrupted. She reiterated that DepEd has waived the usual
documentary requirements to give leeway to displaced children to go to school.
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