COTABATO CITY – Teachers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are 100% ready for the incoming school year, 2015-2016.

DepEd-ARMM Secretary Dr. John Magno said school heads and teachers in the region have already been reminded on what they must do to ensure orderly opening of classes next week.

There are around 27,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the region.

‘Oplan Balik Eskwela’ an annual drive to prepare for the school opening was earlier conducted in the region. It aims at ensuring that students are properly enrolled and are able to attend school when their classes start.

As stated in DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2015, the school year will consist of 201 school days, inclusive of the five-day in-service training break. The school year for 2015-2016 begins on June 1 and will end on April 1, 2016.

Zainudin Dalgan, school head of Hji. Salik Kalaing National High School said despite the January 25, 2015 incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, teachers in his area are all prepared for the incoming school year.

“In fact, on Thursday, May 28, I will meet with six teachers of Hji. Salik in preparation for the opening of classes,” Dalgan said.

He added that DepEd wants the children of Mamasapano to learn a lot to achieve their dreams and help their community.

In Basilan, teachers exert extra effort to bring back children to school.

“As the head of the school, I and the teachers of Upper Taberlongan, had house-to-house approach in encouraging the students to go to school,” said Kamrie Tadjah, teacher-in-charge of Upper Taberlongan Elementary School in Maluso, Basilan.

As of Thursday, May 27, about 300 students have enrolled in Upper Taberlongan and more enrolees are expected in the coming days.

“Attendance is an important factor in school success, so we planned more extra-curricular activities to prevent absenteeism,” Tadjah added.

The ARMM’s Education department will also work in addressing the problem of flooded schools in the region especially in the province of Maguindanao.

Bai Tina D. Husin, Grade 2 teacher of Balong Elementary School in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, said that in case of natural calamities, the plan is to have make-up classes to compensate for the school days lost. (Bureau of Public Information)

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