PIA Press Release
Monday, January 09, 2012

CDO, Iligan schools: place for learning and healing

“Our schools serve as venues for students and teachers to talk about what they have gone through and what they feel buried deep inside,” said Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC. “Talking, sharing experiences, will allow them to process their emotions. The resumption of classes will also allow us to conduct a head count to find out the whereabouts of those who are absent.”

Luistro clarified that affected schools are not holding regular classes during this first few days. “They will be doing mostly prayers, play therapy, and psycho-social debriefing. We will be using alternative delivery modes for learning.”

To guide both unaffected and affected schools, DepEd Region 10 Director Luz Almeda issued Regional Memorandum number 2, series of 2012 on January 4.

“Believing that bringing back normalcy to the lives of the teachers and students affected by Typhoon Sendong is an essential step in healing, the Department has decided to follow the issued School Calendar for 2010-2011 and resume classes on January 3, 2012,” said Almeda. “For schools directly affected by the typhoon, however, Regional Memorandum number 114, series of 2011 was issued allowing for the conduct of alternative delivery modes of education. What is primordial is that the learners who return to school feel welcome and will have access to professional help.”

The memorandum also stated that “concentration on the first few days of the resumption of classes should be on the healing of the learners. The cleaning of the classrooms should be given second priority and that no students should be required to assist in the major cleaning of the classrooms to reduce risk of ailments arising therefrom.”

Schools are likewise warned of risks of leptospirosis. Preventive measures and other information on the disease are being incorporated in lessons during the first few days of classes. DepEd’s health personnel are also asked to coordinate with the Department of Health.

Environmental protection, climate change, domestic disaster preparedness, geo-hazards, and learnings and experiences of students and teachers when the disaster struck are also being included in discussions across all subjects in all grade and year levels.(DepEd)