Thousands of Tacloban City students to troop to school on Monday

By ANDREI MEDINA, GMA News

Published January 4, 2014 6:39pm

The Department of Education in Tacloban City is expecting 85 percent of their 50,000 students to attend the year's first day of class amid rapid rebuilding in the city due to the damage brought by super typhoon Yolanda.

“We have to consider those na mga casualties, nag-transfer to other divisions and regions sa estimate natin,” said Schools Division Superintendent Gorgonio Diaz Jr. in a phone interview with GMA News Online on Saturday.

He noted student attendees will increase during the following days since the Deped prepared for 2014's classes through clean-up drives and securing learning materials.

“Pero sa mga bata if they are prepared sa Jan. 6... Marahil handa na rin kasi may mga announcement, info campaign para sa resumption of classes,” he said.

Only three out of 54 schools were spared when Yolanda hit the city in November 2013. The UNICEF, along with other organizations, is helping with the repairs of over 200 classrooms in Tacloban City.

“All the 54 public elementary and secondary schools will be ready sa Jan 6. Yung ginagamit na evacuation centers will use the temporary learning spaces or makeshift classrooms,” Diaz said.

But he added “learning activities shall be based on the situation, readiness, capacity and ability of the schools.”

Eight schools are still being used as evacuations centers but the government already has plans to transfer the evacuees.

Last December, the government held debriefing sessions for students to relieve them of stress.

“Maganda naman yung epekto ng debriefing sa mga students. Kahit papaano ay na-overcome nila ang hindi kasiya-siyang karanasang dulot ng bagyo,” Diaz explained.

He added there have been no reports of students refusing to go back to school due to trauma from Yolanda.

Diaz also urged students to not lose heart and come to class even after the trials they faced when Yolanda struck their city.

“Ang inyong karanasan sa bagong Yolanda ay bahagi lamang ng inyong pagpupunyagi sa buhay. Huwag nating hayaan na ang bagyong Yolanda ang maging dahilan upang ang mga pangarap natin ay mawala,” he said. — JDS, GMA News

Tags: tacloban, yolandaaftermath