Teachers give free supplies to students in Legazpi public school

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Every year, public school teachers in Ibalon Central School pool their money to gift kinder students with free school supplies on the first day of classes.

Elizabeth Lara, school principal of Ibalon Central School, led the gift-giving among 283 kinder students after the welcome program for new pupils and transferees.

“Teachers are contributing their own money to buy school supplies for kinder [students] as our gesture of welcoming them,”  said Lara.

At least 56 teachers shelled out their hard-earned money to purchase some school supplies and candies for the students for school year 2016-2017. The Civil Service Commission regional office supports the annual program of the school, as well as members of the private sector who also provide school supplies.

Ibalon Central School is in the heart of Legazpi City, surrounded by big malls. The school has 1,887 enrollees as of presstime.  Late enrollment is still underway to ensure that no child is left behind, following the Department of Education mandate.

Class shifting

Lara said the school has only 24 classrooms available, requiring classes in shifts.

Kinder students have at least 3 shifts for 8 classes beginning 7 am. For all grade levels, class shifting starts at 6 am to 12 noon, while the second shift is from 12 noon to 6 pm.

Lara said that the number of students may reach more than 2,000 as enrolment is still ongoing. Two new schoolbuildings are being built in the school, which would help address the lack of classrooms.

Roy Bañas, DepEd Bicol spokesman, said that some classrooms are in varying stages of completion are expected to be fully built within the first semester of the school year.

Bañas said there are at least 1.6 million total expected enrollees in elementary and secondary schools across the region. This is 9.38% higher than the number of enrollees in the region last year, which totalled to 1,508,742, he said, adding that this is because of the added grade 11.

Out of  the total 1,650,357 pupils and students, 138,404 are in kinder;  968,814 in elementary; 450,617 in secondary grades 7 to 10; and 92,522 in senior high school (grade 11 only).

Bañas also said that the opening day of classes in Bicol was generally smooth and peaceful.

“It was generally smooth, orderly and peaceful. As to the security of our learners, teachers and other school personnel, there was no any untoward incident that has been reported to the Regional Balik Eskuwela Information and Action Center,” he said. – Rappler.com