LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government earmarked some P4.2 million from the local school board fund and other available sources as financial assistance to the different public and private schools in the municipality for the said institutions to be ready in time for the opening of classes for schoolyear 2020-2021 on October 5, 2020.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda said that of the said appropriation, P1.5 million will be set aside for the different elementary schools, another P1.5 million will be allotted for the 23 secondary schools and P1.2 million will be for the private schools in the municipality.
He added the funds will be to procure printers, reproduction machines and photo copiers for the printing and reproduction of the modules for distribution to the enrollees under the blended learning strategy implemented by the education department for the upcoming schoolyear.
The municipal chief executive reported the funds for these were realigned from the funds earlier allocated for the provincial sports meet and the travel allowance of the members of the municipal council because the annual sports competition has been cancelled while the travel allowance of the municipal councilors will no longer be used for the remaining part of the year.
Mayor Salda pointed out the municipal government remains committed in assisting to the extent it can, the education department and the different public and private schools, to ensure smooth preparations for the upcoming opening of classes and during the duration of the schoolyear so that the blended type of learning will not be jeopardized and for the enrolled students to be able to pursue their uninterrupted studies.
According to him, the funds earmarked by the municipal government will be separate from the funds that will be provided by the provincial government to the different municipalities as part of the assistance in supporting the education department roll out the implementation of blended learning for the upcoming schoolyear.
Earlier, the education department moved back the opening of classes for the upcoming schoolyear from August 24 to October 5, 2020 to allow the completion of the preparations of the required modules, among others, for the education department’s blended learning.
Salda claimed the municipal government will strive to find resources to help the different private and public schools in the municipality because the continuous education of the youth is important in laying the foundation for them to have a brighter future.
He emphasized that the municipal government will closely coordinate with the education department and the different public and private schools to ensure issues and concerns that may arise during the opening of classes will be jointly addressed by the concerned parties to avoid unnecessary delays in the conduct of classes.
Salda urged the school officials of the public and private schools in the municipality to keep their communication lines open for parents and students to easily reach them once there will be problems that will transpire when classes will start early next month.
By Hent