Overcrowding, traffic woes mar school opening

Perennial problems such as overcrowding in some classrooms and traffic jams in many areas in Metro Manila hounded the first day of School Year 2010-2011 on Tuesday. Despite these usual woes, Education Secretary Mona Valisno insisted it was still "all systems go" for for the opening of classes, adding her agency has addressed some of the problems. "All systems go, naayos ang mga problema ... Ang kampanya namin ngayon, lahat na estudyante na school age should go to school (It is all systems go. We have fixed the other problems. Our goal is to let all children of school age go to school)," Valisno said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier, dzBB reported an overcrowding problem at the Payatas-B Elementary School in Quezon City, with 120 students crammed in a single shift. There were at least two shifts at the school, the report said. But Valisno said the teachers in that school are prepared to handle such a big number of students in a class. "Prepared sila i-handle ang malaking klase, at least temporarily hanggang makahanap ng remedyo (The teachers there are prepared to handle such a big number of students, at least temporarily while we look for a solution)," she said. She admitted students will have to bear with the problems there for "months," adding that over 24 million students are expected to go to school this school year. "Ang LGUs [local government units] tumutulong para gumawa ng paraan (The LGUs concerned are helping us find ways around these problems)," she said. Overcrowding was also reported at the Baclaran Elementary School in southern Metro Manila. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported 60 students crowded into one classroom during the first day of classes. Worse, students there had to cope with garbage and vendors near the school, the report said. At the Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City, officials had a hard time asking parents to refrain from accompanying their children to the classrooms. Traffic jams In Manila, dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported traffic jams around the Mendiola area as students trooped to Centro Escolar University, La Consolacion College, College of the Holy Spirit, and San Beda College. Traffic was heavy at C.M. Recto Avenue, Legarda Street and the Mendiola Bridge area near Malacañang. Police stepped up visibility in the area, even as Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay ordered the extensive use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to prevent crime. In Makati City, traffic built up along J.P. Rizal Street as early as 5:30 a.m., with Makati City traffic enforcers showing up in full force. Help desks, secret marshals Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said help desks are in place near schools. "We have been doing this for the past three weeks, establishing police assistance desks, especially in the vicinity of all universities, colleges and schools, lalo sa University Belt na dikit-dikit ang schools at ang population of students are high (We have been doing this for the past three weeks, establishing police assistance desks near universities and schools, especially in the University Belt where there the population of students is high)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Radio dwIZ also reported the PNP deployed secret marshals to school areas. The police has also coordinated with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and DepEd in making sure school zones are clear of street vendors. No sex education yet On the issue sex education in schools, Valisno said the DepEd has put on hold the program for now. The subject is supposed to be pilot tested in 80 elementary schools and 79 high schools. "Consultations are ongoing over the issue. Hindi pa [i-implement], consultation pa lang po (Not yet. Consultations are still being done on the matter)," she said when asked about the implementation of the sex education program. — LBG, GMANews.TV