From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 17): 30 new IP schools open in Kapalong, Talaingod
Around 30 new schools in the farflung barangays of Kapalong and Talaingod began its first day of classes on Monday.
Department of Education - Davao del Norte Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Winnie Batoon said that the Department of Education with the assistance of the local government units and tribal communities, opened new schools in areas with the indigenous people (IP) communities.
“We are opening new schools to give opportunities to the indigenous people to access basic education,” Dr. Batoon emphasized.
He said that some of the schools offer primary level only as per request of the tribal leaders, while some are integrated schools.
In an earlier interview with Davao del Norte Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Josephine Fadul, she said that the teachers were trained with IP education and multi-grade systems to suit the need of the community.
“The tribal leaders, themselves, trained the teachers on their culture because even though they are in the same municipalities, each tribe has its unique customs and traditions,” Dr. Fadul said.
Dr. Batoon disclosed that as of now, salaries of some of the teachers are funded by the local government units through the Special Education Fund.
He also stressed that make-shift buildings were being utilized as classrooms as of now, while classrooms are being constructed through the help of the Kalahi-CIDSS of the Department Social Welfare and Development and Dep Ed.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2871465972350/30-new-ip-schools-open-in-kapalong-talaingod
Kapalong and Talaingod have been areas that have been hotly contested by the Philippine military and the New People's Army (NPA), the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The establishment of these schools is to obviate the need for the "alternative" schools that in the past had been set up by CPP front organizations. These schools, dubbed "NPA schools" by the Philippine military, were designed to meet the educational needs of IP communities due to the lack of any government presence or provision of educational opportunities.
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