ARMM to construct 900 classroom buildings

COTABATO CITY -Close to 900 new
classrooms all over the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) worth over
P500 million will be built starting this year.

Dr. John Magno, the region’s Department of Education
(DepEd) secretary, said P191 million was also earmarked for water, sanitation,
and hygiene facilities in ARMM’s schools. He reiterated that Bangsamoro
children deserve quality teachers and school facilities.”

The support of the Australian government through its
Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) program, he said,
helps a lot to deliver quality education in the region.

The BEAM-ARMM is a comprehensive education and youth
development program designed to contribute to the alleviation of poverty and to
promote peace in the region.

It delivers accessible and healthy learning
facilities, quality teachers, learning materials, and a protective environment
for children in need, through effective, transparent, and accountable
management systems.

To date, 123 classrooms were already rehabilitated
and 50 new classrooms were constructed by BEAM-ARMM across the region
benefitting more than 8,000 student-beneficiaries each school year.

A series of supplemental training to over 9,000
teachers on Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum under the K to 12 program were
also conducted. This initiative also provides skills training to out-of-school
youth and senior high school students.

My son is one of the lucky students who will occupy
the newly rehabilitated classrooms at Portholland Elementary School,” said Hja.
Thandzmahal Idan, 35 years old and mother of Al Jake Idan, Grade 3 student in
the town of Maluso in Basilan. Maluso is one of the recipients of projects
under DepEd-ARMM and BEAM-ARMM program.

Amella Jalani, Portholland school head, said the
school has 28 classrooms but only 16 are being used. Last school year, 1,900
students merged to only 16 classrooms, which resulted in a classroom-student
ratio of over 1:100,” said Jalani. She underscored that this problem results in
students skipping class and leads to severe absenteeism.

Based on data from the DepEd’s Enhanced Basic
Education Information System, ARMM has 989 schools classified as black and
red” in 2012. The black schools are without existing instructional classrooms
while red schools need either classroom repairs, or new classrooms.

Five of Portholland’s old classroom buildings were
renovated while two new classrooms were constructed by the BEAM-ARMM.