Ian Carl Espinosa
February 21, 2024
7:29 pm
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / February 21) – More than two weeks after the landslide in Masara in the municipality of Maco in Davao de Oro, 3,558 students have still not returned to the classroom, according to the Department of Education in the Davao Region (DepEd-Davao).
An evacuation center in Barangay Elizalde in Mac, Davao de Oro. MindaNews file photo by YAS D. OCAMPO
Jenielito Atillo, DepEd-Davao spokesperson, said during the AFP-PNP Press Corps press conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel Wednesday morning that as of their February 16 data, six public schools and one private school were affected after the landslide in Masara.
These schools are the Elizalde Elementary School, Elizalde National High School, Panibasan Elementary School, Panibasan National High School, Masara Integrated School, Tagbaros Elementary School, and Masara Christian School, the lone private school.
He said that while the schools were not damaged in the landslide, many of the students in the evacuation centers are from the said schools.
Out of the 3,558 affected students, 3,332 were from public schools while 226 of them were from the lone private school.
Atillo said DepEd-Davao continues to assist the students and teachers through providing learning and teaching kits for those who are staying in evacuation centers. Select teachers near Masara were also temporarily deployed in the area for days to help students during modular classes.
Meanwhile, for those learners away from Masara and other affected barangays but would like to continue attending classes elsewhere, Atillo said schools must accept them “without question” and with no necessary documents.
“We don’t want education to stop. It is an order for public schools to accept all affected learners,” he stressed.
Atillo added that even if the students are not from Masara, where the Feb. 6 landslide took place that killed more than 90 people, students who were affected by the floods should be accepted by the schools “without question.”
He reported that 135 teachers (124 of whom are from the public schools) were affected, as well as 18 non-teaching personnel (14 from the lone private school).
Atillo said that even though no schools nor classrooms were destroyed due to the landslide, the recommendation of the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-11) for a no-build zone in Masara can be a “little problem” if the learners and teachers would resume their classes in the landslide-affected area.
“But again, we’re moving heaven and earth to really provide assistance to our affected learners, also to our teachers,” Atillo said.
Cristy Epe, Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd–Davao de Oro, said a program called “Tuloy Kaalaman” was launched to help students in the landslide-affected areas to re-learn essential competencies such as reading, mathematics, and science last Feb. 15.
Atillo noted that there is no suspension of classes, but only suspension of in-person classes. Thus, classes must move on from the alternative and flexible modalities such as modular, online, radio and television, he said.
He said that as long as there is internet signal, online classes will continue. “[But] if learners and parents are affected, they can at all times be excused,” Atillo added.
When asked how many students died during the landslide, Atillo said there is no available data yet, but added that about five died before the landslide struck Masara.
The landslide in Masara happened as heavy rains poured in the area. Prior to the landslide, Davao Region experienced heavy rains due to the trough of low pressure area and shear line, suspending classes in most areas. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
Source: https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2024/02/3500-students-affected-in-masara-landslide/#gsc.tab=0
Comments
Post a Comment