Pangasinan schools’ water pipes inspected ahead of Brigada Eskwela

Provincial health officials in Pangasinan this week started inspecting water pipes and faucets in schools, to ensure the safety of pupils' drinking water once school starts June 1.

In Sta. Barbara town, water testing was also conducted in barangays by the rural health unit, GMA Dagupan reported Wednesday.

"Ang findings okay naman, wala naman kaming nakikitang problema," Sta. Barbara rural health unit officer Dr. Fe Reyes said.

"Active po yung mga barangay health workers natin dito sa Barangay Cablong at ganun din sa DepEd, may pina-pass kami sanitation, safety ng aming pupils," added Cablong Elementary School principal Imelda Bonifacio.

Classroom shortage

However, some schools, including Cablong Elementary School, still lack classrooms – it has only seven classrooms to accommodate more than 300 students.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is helping the situation by donating two new classrooms and four restrooms.

Expected to benefit from the new rooms are pupils in kindergarten and Grade 6.

School supplies

In Alcala town in Pangasinan, the GMA Kapuso Foundation provided school supplies to poor students.

The students got bags each containing five notebooks, three pads of paper, crayons, pencils and erasers.

Almost ready for k to 12

Meanwhile, the DepEd said the training for teachers implementing the K to 12 program is almost complete at this time.

"So far wala namang major problems na nangyari riyan. Maayos naman ang kanyang pagkaka-implement. As regards Grades 7 to 9, tapos na rin at iyan na nga yung Grade 10, kasado na for implementation sa June," DepEd Pangasinan 1 education supervisors OIC Carmina Gutierrez said.

DepEd inspection teams

The DepEd, on the other hand, has stepped up efforts to inspect schools so it can identify and address potential problems.

In Alaminos, teams inspected 45 public school and found potential problems ranging from the lack of fences to the need for new school buildings.

"Umiikot kami bawa't schools para sa performance appraisal ng bawa't schools, so pinupuntahan namin to validate yung nasa papel at yung aktuwal na sitwasyon," said Danilo Sison, OIC of the DepEd Alaminos City Division.

At the San Roque Elementary School, the DepEd team found a lack of fences that may render the school vulnerable to burglary.

School principal Gina Mendez also cited the need for fences to protect the plants from stray animals.

The DepEd Alaminos City division also noted the need to construct added school buildings to implement the K to 12 program.

Under the program, there will be an added two years in basic education, including a senior high school.

Six of eight high schools in the city may need added classrooms.

"Dapat naka-prepare na yung mga physical aspect, dapat conducive to learning," Sison said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News