LAGAWE, IFUGAO- The road to promoting the educational, economic, social and cultural development of Barangay Boliwong in Lagawe town is already being paved by the teachers of Boliwong Elementary School is being led by principal Silvestra Ebelan.
The just-concluded Brigada Eskwela of the school, for instance, feature strong partnership of various entities that are a result of genuine and ongoing concern for sustainable growth and development. And as for many, it gets close to equating sustainability to a future not just for the school but also the community itself as it is part and parcel of achieving loftier goals.
Teachers, students and leaders in the public and private sector took part in cleaning and sprucing up the school’s facilities. The finishing phase of the activity was done on a Saturday and Sunday just before the scheduled June 8 school opening.
This development came at the heels that Brigada Eskwela participants expressed their gratitude for these “bayanihan” relationships and eventually they get to understand their purpose in life. Finally, they have something to express that is deeper than words can possibly put across.
Ebelan said the activity’s completion will create more opportunities for the fine tuning all learning facilities.
“Today, we begin the well-directed participation in this very important program,” Ebelan told the ZigZag Weekly.
“It signifies our commitment to realizing our goals,” she added.
Thus, Ebelan’s unwavering determination and strong will to overcome difficulties here really matters.
In the days ahead, there are challenges of delivering high-quality education for children. A task up to educators who should display exceptional courage and unflinching resolve to defend the welfare of the youth.
A task entrusted to 16 teachers (as well as two non-teaching personnel). In the previous school calendar there were 279 students.
Clearly, while the conduct of the activity is well-intentioned, the manner it is being done amid the high cost of living and mounting poverty in the countryside, it is not putting a dent in the country’s perennial education crisis.
Out-of-pocket expenses of parents, who are mostly farmers, at the activity are unacceptable. The government has locked itself unmindful of the unfairness of it.
The school’s spaces and grounds make it conducive somehow to outdoor leaning activities. It needs a new building in place of a dilapidated one. It is also in need of a new library and canteen-making them safer and comfortable for young learners. Over the years, the school served as the venue for young villagers who are looking for fun, sports and adventure.
Boliwong is one that is extremely rich in history and is regarded as one of the most important villages of Lagawe. A number of good men and women who have led the town to what it is today call it home. Many attended the Boliwong Elementary School. It is thus no surprise that the school is so important- then and now. For today, it plays a mission to improve the people’s lives.
Public schools have no budget for classrooms and textbooks. Huge amount of funds are not being utilized by the education department. Instead, money is ending up to the pockets of corrupt officials.
Does the problem let up once you repaint the classroom’s walls? Hardly!
Efforts to push the Brigada Eskwela would only go to waste if teachers are not given decent wages and there is no meaningful relief to replace aging, damaged classrooms. **By Anthony A. Araos
