SCHOOL OPENING IN CAR SMOOTH, ORDERLY- DepED

August 10, 2024 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

The Department of Education reported a smooth and orderly school opening in the Cordillera Administrative Region for the school year 2024 – 2025. “Overall, the first day and week of classes in the Cordillera was successful, with school management, teachers, and staff resourcefully addressing immediate challenges,” DepEd-CAR Public Affairs Officer Cyrille Miranda said. She said that all schools in the Cordillera welcomed students on Monday, July 29, 2024 despite the inclement weather and the challenges posed by the recent Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon a week before the school opening.

Several schools in the different parts of the region were damaged by the most recent weather disturbances. The DepEd-CAR noted that around 168 schools experienced partial damage due to the recent Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon with Abra and Benguet having the most number of affected schools. Despite all these
challenges, Miranda said that the school opening went well for the Cordillera region. The Brigada Eskwela which was halted during the height of typhoon and the habagat was carried out over the weekend prior to the school opening, Regional Director Estella Carino earlier announced.

Alternative Delivery Mode was implemented in the Kabayan, Benguet and some classes at the Irisan Elementary School in Baguio City to prevent disruptions for the school opening. Accessibility to the Abucot IS was affected by a massive landslide in the area while an ongoing construction at the Irisan ES, Miranda said. According to Miranda, members of the DepEd-CAR Management and Regional Executive Committees monitored various schools during the start of the school year.

Although most issues were effectively addressed by school heads with support from their staff, a common challenge was the shortage of classrooms relative to the number of enrollees. Schools Division Superintendents and other officials also conducted monitoring of the different schools in their respective areas. DepEd-CAR’s latest data showed a total of 332,028 learners are enrolled in public elementary, junior high and senior high schools in the region. Private schools in the region will open classes starting August 5, 2024.

(RMC-PIA CAR)