What about the school opening?

Department of Education’s lack of preparation for the school opening has been underscored by all.
Everyone is animated to what usual problem poor Juan is about to encounter. While education officials
say the government is all set for the school opening, teachers all over the country say otherwise. We still
have the perennial shortages of classrooms and teachers.

While reports of holding classes under the tree may now be a thing of the past as both the government
and private donors construct more classrooms and school buildings, other important issues arise.
However, the additional facilities still cannot keep pace with the continuing growth of the student
population. Teachers’ salaries have also been raised in recent years, but the increases are rarely enough.

Top officials in the Deped said that textbook shortage has been addressed and there are continuing efforts
to boost school facilities for information and communication technology. But one needs not go farther.
In many schools, particularly in the rural areas, this is untrue. Many students are still scrambling for books.
Although the government is doing its part, still this challenge appears heading to eternity.

As the new school season officially starts, the usual problems like the shortage of teachers, classrooms,
and other facilities will once again steal the show. And they are bound to recur next year because of the
government's inability to solve them.

While there is a long way to go in addressing the above problems, we should also extend our
acknowledgment to DepEd. Physical changes are sprouting and with the department’s mandate, they
appear with clear-cut policy, knowledge, and financial resources to expand existing schools or build new
schools, thus improving the learning environment for elementary and high school students in rural and
urban areas of our country. Action for increasing the salary of teachers has also been revving up.

View from the Hill

IHES has been experiencing classroom shortage. For the past two or three years, pupils and teachers alike
are taking the misery of consoling themselves on make-shift classrooms. So sad to think considering this
school near the Capitol is considered as the second largest in Ipil district.

The construction of 20 classrooms started in 2017. A month or two from now, the construction will
celebrate its anniversary and still remains unfinished. The principal of IHES has already sent two letters
complaining about the delay. Many wonder what’s going on.

Pupils of IHES are getting restless every day. One Grade 6 pupil tells me that lack of ventilation and noise
make a chaotic harmony on those who are housed in the covered court. Add the searing heat of the sun,
one becomes totally distracted.

We consider this is an alarm ! The latest Reading Assessment conducted by the all grade level chairs
registers a rocketing 12% non-readers. Currently, IHES has more or less 1,200 pupils from Kinder to Grade
6. According to Mrs. Ve Amor Sampuro, Master Teacher of this school, the principal together with the
teachers has already decided to implement a concrete action to solve this problem. Goodluck, then
teachers.

We welcome most cordially the arrival of our new teacher Mrs. Ellen A. Villasis. My chit-chat with her a
day ago revealed that she came from Bacalan elementary School of the same district. She said she might
be handling remedial classes for the non readers and she’s excited with the new challenge.

Rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish. IHES pupils, as observed, are not throwing their wrappers and papers
in proper areas. Calling the attention of all advisers to bind everyone in promoting cleanliness inside the
campus.

Buwan ng Wika is about to begin. What are the activities in the school to promote the use of Filipino
language? Last year was fun and grand. Hopefully, this can be duplicated.

Grade 6 Gemini spearhead the planting of vegetables usingplastic bottles. Very commendable, indeed.
Kudos to Sir Jhonrey Velasco, the adviser.