THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Davao encouraged qualified teachers to file their applications as there are a hundred or so available items that need to be filled for the additional Indigenous People (IP) schools that will be constructed this year.
“We are still encouraging some qualified applicants from Higher Education Institution or State Universities and Colleges. Although they are complaining that we are pirating their teachers,” DepEd Regional Director Alberto Escobarte said.
This came after DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones had earlier announced that the agency is planning to establish 251 Indigenous People schools with 605 classrooms in Mindanao as part of the intensive effort of the government to provide accessible and culture-based education for the IPs.
Sixty-nine of this will be set up here in the Davao region. With this number, Alberto said they will need additional teachers to augment the number of students in remote areas.
“We have newly created items for the 69 schools,” Escobarte said.
According to Alberto, the 69 public schools for the IP communities were already operating in alternative classrooms while waiting for the physical structure of the buildings to be realized.
“They are holding classes in some temporary learning spaces like barangay halls while waiting for the construction to be implemented by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) under the Kalahi’s scheme,” the DepEd-Davao chief said.
Escobarte bared that the budget for the projects has already released to the DSWD regional offices.
These classrooms will be constructed not in accordance with the standard design of the buildings but are designed to the cultural preferences of a particular IP community.
“We still use the K to 12 curriculum although there will be contextualizing or tailor fitting to preserve their culture,” Escobarte said.
He mentioned that these schools will be constructed in Talaingod, Kapalong, areas in Davao del Norte, one Sitio in Davao City.
There will also be schools in Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.