SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 2, 2014) – Three years into his administration, Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Muslim autonomous region, has not built a single classroom in Sulu province.
Sulu, one of five provinces under the autonomous region, was also visited only once by Hataman since he was elected as regional governor.
The Department of Education in Sulu province also made several request to Hataman for the building of schools, but got no reply.
Two letters were also submitted by Tim Arbison, the Provincial Schools Superintendent, requesting lawyer Jamar Kulayan, the ARMM Education Secretary, for a school building following the burning of the 10-classroom Hadji Hassiman Elementary School in Higad in Jolo town that killed 2 students two years ago.
A letter and the spot report on the fire incident by the school head Said Bakil and also endorsed by Jaton Jama, the school district in-charge, were also attached on Arbison’s letters.
But up to now nothing has been done by Hataman on the shortage of classrooms in Sulu. Hataman was branded as “ghost buster” by President Benigno Aquino for allegedly “busting” 70 so-called fictitious teachers in the whole of ARMM, however, no one has been criminally charge for this.
Even the licensure examinations review for teachers is also being shouldered by the Sulu provincial government to help local educators pass the yearly examination by the Professional Regulation Commission. Professional educators are hired from Manila and then brought to Sulu to conduct the reviews for teachers. The provincial government also is giving free review classes in Sulu for civil eligibility examinations for those who wanted to work in the government.
Tan has confirmed that school officials have not been getting the needed support from the ARMM, particularly in providing school building in different towns in Sulu.
“The Department of Education in Sulu needs school buildings. Up to now I was told there has been no single classroom built by the ARMM in Sulu. We are the one building schools and covered courts in different towns in the province because there is no help or projects from ARMM.”
“The Sulu provincial government and even the municipal government and the barangay leaders are giving allowances to the teachers, to volunteer teachers to help them cope with their economic needs. We are not asking more (from the ARMM), we only want just enough for the teachers and students. We pity the youth because education is very important to everyone,” Tan told reporters.
Many schools in Sulu were built using provincial funds, including chairs and tables and computers and even boat engines for far-flung schools in island villages – one of them is the Kabukan Elementary School off Panglima Tahil town.
Teachers have requested the Sulu provincial government a pump boat engine that they can use for their wooden boat in transporting students and faculty members from the town to the island of Kabukan.
Gabir Sarajali, the principal of Kawmpang Elementary School in the town of Patikul, said the then Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, now the Vice Governor, donated 10 computer sets, tables and chairs for their school in an effort to promote Information technology among the young students in the southern province.
Provincial engineers headed by Abdurasad Baih said Tan also told them to draw a plan for the school’s covered court where students and teachers can hold their important activities comfortably.
Baih said Kawmpang is only one of many government-run schools in Sulu that Tan donated equipment and supported. He said the provincial government has built many schools that benefit tens of thousands of Muslim students. (Mindanao Examiner)
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