Dr. Tarcila Javier, Bataan schools division superintendent, said they are not facing problems but challenges this school year.
“We are fortunate in Bataan because the big problems suffered by other schools divisions as to the lack of classrooms and teachers are being filled-up by the local government. We are ready for school year 2015-2016,” she said.
Josefina Naguit, schools division planning officer, said that classroom-student ratio in Bataan is better than most schools in the country with the province enjoying a ratio of one classroom for 37 elementary school pupils (1:37) and 1:39 in secondary schools.
She said that there are 9,029 teachers to attend to expected enrollees of more or less 96,000 children in elementary and kindergarten schools and 46,000 in secondary schools. Evelyn Mendoza, education program supervisor, dealt on the readiness of the provincial schools division on its school-based feeding program. She said that the national government has released a budget of P4.928 million for the program.
“Hindi na magiging problema ang sinasabing walang pagkain ang provinmga bata kaya hindi papasok,” she said. Lunch will be served free to children in selected schools with a budget of P16 per meal.
Javier said that they have not encountered major problems in the three-year implementation of the K-12 program that is on the fourth year this school year. “What we are preparing is the Senior High School in 2016,” the DepEd provincial chief said.
“Handang-handa na ang Bataan sa pagpapatupad ng Senior High School 2016,” said Edgar Garcia, education program supervisor and senior high school focal person.
He said that ready to offer senior high school are 16 public schools and 19 private schools in the province. “Teachers and parents have already been oriented while students know their thrusts.”
He said that construction of new senior high school buildings will start June this year and expected to be completed May next year in time for the opening of classes.
Garcia said that when the K-12 program started, curriculum guides, learning materials were already in place.
“Even the hiring system for teachers has been readied. The provincial government under Gov. Albert Garcia is fully supportive of the senior high school,” he said.