TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) — The Leyte division of the Department of Education (DepEd) has noted high attendance of teachers and pupils going back to school since classes resumed Monday in typhoon-affected areas.
Dr. Ronelo Al Firmo, Leyte schools division superintendent said that based on the report of district supervisors, around 40 to 60 percent of students and around 90 percent of teachers reported to their respective schools since Monday.
“They are all excited to go back to school,” he said.
Firmo emphasized that there are no regular classes; instead, sessions were focused on stress debriefing, games and similar activities.
Typhoon Yolanda caused damage to schools situated in coastal areas while not much destruction was noted in other towns.
The calamity damaged some 60 to 70 percent of classrooms in Leyte; around 4,000 are partially damaged and some 2,000 as totally damaged.
With the resumption of operations on Monday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Save the Children installed temporary learning spaces in Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag and McArthur towns.
The spaces will be utilized until damaged classrooms are repaired. To address the lack of classrooms, principals have options to implement shifting of classes.
UNICEF also provided tents to evacuees in schools that have been used as evacuation centers so classrooms will be utilized in the morning. (PNA)