By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO
Despite findings of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that their schools may have "unstable" structural condition, students of Araullo High School, Manila Science High School, and Manuel Roxas High School joined yesterday some 190,000 high school students and almost 100,000 elementary pupils in attending their first day of school.
Last Friday, the DPWH recommended the evaluation of the three schools. Over the weekend, there were rumors that classes would be suspended this week in the three schools to allow DPWH engineers to inspect the schools as part of Manila’s earthquake-preparedness measures.
However, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said classes in the three schools may proceed since the City Engineer’s Office has already renovated the schools and performed concrete grouting. As such, students should not worry about any life-threatening damage in case a tremor hits the city, Atienza said.
In an interview, Majority Floor Leader Councilor Ernesto Dionisio said the funds for the renovation of the public schools were taken from the R600-million annual Special Education Fund of the city government.
As the new school year began yesterday, Division of City Schools Supt. Ma. Luisa Quiñones said there is no longer any classroom shortage in the city, adding that the classroom to student ratio has been reduced to 1:45, or 45 students per classroom from the former ratio of 1:60.
Atienza also announced the priority education projects of the city government which he said he will inaugurate this month. One of them is the newly constructed campus of the City College of Manila, which was renamed as Universidad de Manila, at Mehan Garden. Another is the new Department of Education building for teachers at the People’s Botanical Park on Arroceros Street.
Asked to comment on the proposed legislation of Sen. Manuel Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party, on changing the school calendar year from June until March to September until May, Atienza said he begs to disagree with Villar. "I don’t agree with that idea of going back to the old calendar. Let’s spend summer months during summer. Let’s do what’s necessary and try to improve the drainage system and flood control situation," Atienza said.
"It’s a bit abnormal when you change the school calendar as children will go to school during summer months and take a vacation during rainy days. To put it very swiftly, an abnormal schedule that may develop abnormal minds," he added.
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