BY MATÉ ESPINA
BIRTHING pains were reported when public schools officially opened this week despite months of preparation. Students were given an option to choose between digital distance learning which is more economical, or modular forms which requires a weekly trip to the schools to get your materials.
There is no report yet from the Department of Education as to how many availed of the digital form, but I guess unless you are in an urban area where internet connection is more reliable, many in the countryside opted for modular learning.
Private schools opened their school year way ahead of the general population and it was also a mixed form of online and modular. However, in a recent report, DepEd’s records show that enrolment in private schools dropped by more than 50 percent at only 41.78 percent as compared to last year while that of public schools was at 94.07 percent.
Richard Martinez, planning officer of the Negros Occidental division said that there were only 12,034 enrolees in private schools this year compared to 28,800 students last year. Pre-school and junior high school had the biggest drop with only 30.41 percent and 35.74 percent enrolment for this year.
He added that the drop in private schools enrolment is probably due to the fact that the teaching modalities they offer are the same as in public schools. Understandably, with the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic, many parents opted to go for free education.
But very telling though was the fact that public schools enrolment also dropped by almost 20,000 students, at 303,000 compared to 322,000 last year. In short, if you add that to those who did not enrol in private institutions, some 35,000 students failed to enrol this school year and that’s a lot.
However there is good news too for educators after Negros Occidental Gov. Bong Lacson entered into a memorandum of agreement with the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod to provide masters and doctorate degree scholarships for 1,157 teachers in both public elementary and high schools in Negros Occidental under the Flagships to Reach Educational Excellence – Paglaum Program.
“Investment done for our teachers through upgrading of knowledge and skills is an investment for the future of our children,” Lacson said, adding that “children, regardless of economic or social status should have the same level of good quality education.”
One thousand teachers will be funded scholars while USLS will cover 122 pro bono scholars and 35 other slots will be for teachers from the Diocesan schools of Bacolod, Kabankalan and Dumaguete.
Meanwhile, it seems the so-called Visayan Bloc is headed for a breakdown, or may actually be non-existing now, as the House of Congress (which has become a house of clowns) is in disarray with the speakership war between current House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Even President Rodrigo Duterte went public threatening to resolve the issue himself if they cannot get their acts together.
The Visayan Bloc composed of 44 congressional representatives has a semblance of power then, under the leadership of former Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez. However, with his term over, it seems nobody took the helm to ensure that Visayas has a voice in congress.
Thus, it is not surprising that some solons here have sided with Cayetano while others opined that the shared leadership agreement must be honoured. Unfortunately, power can be blinding and Cayetano went to all theatrics to ensure he remains which was indulged by other clowns. I personally do not like any of the two but at this point, I’d rather have Velasco if only to stop Cayetano in using his clowns to his advantage.
Casualties of this ongoing war were allies of Velasco whose chairmanship have been revoked like Deputy Speaker Michael Romero who was replaced by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, a Cayetano ally while Rep. Sharon Garin was removed as chair of economic affairs and adding insult to injury, was replaced by another Ilonggo, Aklan Rep. Ted Haresco. Of course Garin knew it was forthcoming after reports came out that she and Romero accompanied Velasco in that meeting with Duterte.
The president did not name whom he prefers for the speakership but his veiled warning the other night was directed to Cayetano who decided to stop budget deliberations early this week.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya told me yesterday that he agreed with my perception, and their party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, already issued a manifesto calling on the House to resume budget deliberations, even before the President’s public address.
“It is imperative to finish unfinished business,” Greg said, and the chairmanship war must be dealt with after. Asked though whom he will support, Greg said their party will “heed the call of Duterte.”
Of course, everything is fluid at the moment and Cayetano may just order resumption of session and gain a footing with the president. In fact, many are actually suspecting that prior to the veiled threat, Duterte may have been inclined to go with Cayetano otherwise, how else was he able to go through with those theatrics without the knowledge of his boss./PN
