Schools to rise in remote Samar villages to stop NPA recruitment
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Loading... - Abe Dalisay
- 19 May 2023
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The local government unit of Matuguinao, Samar, is taking proactive measures to counter the recruitment activities of the New People's Army (NPA) by opening additional primary schools in remote communities.
Mayor Aran Boller revealed in a recent phone interview that elementary campuses will be established in the villages of Bag-otan and Camonoan this year. Currently, around 300 students from these villages have to endure long hours of walking to attend classes in neighboring villages. Students from Camonoan have to travel to San Jose village in Gandara town, while learners from Bag-otan are enrolled in schools at the town center.
"After years of desiring to have a school in their own village, this dream will finally be realized this year. The evaluation conducted by the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) yielded positive results. We anticipate that classrooms will be available in these two villages by August," Mayor Boller expressed with optimism.
The construction of the classrooms will be funded by DepEd, while the local government has generously donated the land for the project.
Furthermore, the Matuguinao local government has set its sights on establishing a primary school in the remote village of San Roque. During a visit to the area, Mayor Boller discovered that there were residents who had never attended school, not even a daycare center, despite being of similar age to him.
Reaching San Roque requires a full day of hiking, with the easiest route being through Silvino Lobos town in Northern Samar.
While the village was declared insurgency-free in 2021, sightings of the communist armed group crossing the boundaries of Northern Samar into the other two Samar Island provinces still persist.
The mayor emphasized that illiteracy poses a significant problem as it makes children vulnerable to recruitment by the New People's Army.
"As a leader, it is disheartening to witness such circumstances affecting the youth. It is no surprise that they become easy targets for recruitment by the communist group since they are unable to read or write. They struggle with basic literacy skills, such as recognizing letters and numbers. Therefore, it is crucial that we provide guidance and educational opportunities for the youth," Mayor Boller explained passionately.
Upon his visit, he promptly composed a letter to the education department, urging the establishment of a school in San Roque village.
In addition to the primary school initiative, Mayor Boller revealed the DepEd's plan to establish two new secondary schools to cater to high school students residing in remote villages of the town. Currently, Matuguinao only has one secondary school, the Matuguinao National High School, located in the town proper.
