The Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education has opened 55 new classrooms for young Sama learners in 24 schools of the lone Tawi-Tawi Schools Division.
MBHTE Minister Mohaguer Iqbal, who led the turnover ceremonies, said the completion of the new classrooms came much earlier and was supposed to be unveiled for the opening of the coming school year.
But because the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had become the favorite target of keyboard critics on social media, the turnover was made a lot earlier, he said.
The MBHTE funded the P73,978,858.97 cost of 55 new classrooms undertaken through its School Building Program-Project Management Office, Iqbal said. A series of turnover rites took place last week in Tawi-Tawi to ensure sustainability in terms of management of the newly-built school buildings.
He said subsidized under the 2018 Basic Educational Facilities Fund, the school building projects were constructed in compliance with the 12-Point Priority Areas of the MBHTE, which includes the “accessibility of essential school facilities and a safe space for learning and development.”
The turnover completed school projects comprised of one-story, five-classroom to Danglong ES and Lt. Ladja Indanan ES; one-story, four-classroom to Sama Kasulutan ES, Kamagong PS and Likud Tabawan ES; one-story, three-classroom to Kasulutan PS and Luuk Banca ES; one-story, two-classroom to Aliakbar PS, Karungdong CFES, Nalil ES, Paniongan ES, Panglima Biteng ES, Sallangan ES, Sapa ES, Putat PS, Sollongan ES and Banaran CES; and one-classroom to Panglima Annao CES, Kubang Mandulan PS, Simandagit ES, Tarawakan PS, Butun ES, Lawn Tabawan, and Bubuan ES.
Moreover, 22 more school buildings will be completed soon and will be turned over to Tawi-Tawi Schools Division. Iqbal also presented the list of the Education department’s major plans and programs intervention for the learners in the southernmost island. A fruitful dialogue with residents and local officials on the development of the island was made possible for the Bangsamoro Government on the occasion of the “Par-sugpatan: Para sa Tawi-Tawi, Para sa Bangsamoro” on April 7.
“Inspired by the Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim’s principle of Moral Governance, the MBHTE will strengthen its internal and external processing systems to pursue an education system that prioritizes all learners’ holistic development,” said Iqbal.
“Through education, the BARMM government creates the foundation for a productive, peaceful, and just society wherein our students will become future leaders and professionals,” he stressed.
He highlighted some of the MBHTE projects under its four subsectors: Basic Education, Higher Education, Technical Education and the Madaris sector.
Under Basic Education, the MBHTE will work on the procurement and delivery of 5,000 armchairs, 1,300 teacher’s kits, 2,000 learner’s kits, and 42,000 learner’s materials; Construction of 46 school buildings (24 have already been turned of which one-story, three-classroom is for the Badjao learners); the continuing implementation of the Education Continuity Plan (home-based learning approach).
For higher education, the MBHTE opens the Bangsamoro Access to Higher and Modern Education Scholarship Program, as well as project on the possible conversion of Tawi-Tawi School of Arts and Trade into a Polytechnic College
The ministry will also undertake a Teacher Development Program which will be carried through “The Partnership with Teacher Education Institutes’ in the Context of Pre-Service Education.”
The MBHTE will conduct inventory of all Private higher education institutions and the review of the GRs and permits for institutions and degree programs;
Continue to formulate Strategies on the Education or Learning Continuity Plan, as well as the Mapping of Fishery and Oceanography Research, Studies and Technologies
Under Technical Education, the MBHTE runs the KApakanan PAra sa Kabuhayan ng NANgangailangan o KAPAKANAN TVET scholarship program; and the Tulong Tekbok sa Pag-angat ng Bangsamoro (TTPB) TVET scholarship Program.
It will also undertake Construction of Training Centers in Tawi-Tawi and in the municipalities of Simunul and Panglima Sugala.
Under Madrasah Education, the BARMM will intensify the Conduct of In-Service Training for Islamic Studies and Arabic Languages Teachers and improve on Hiring of competent Asatidz to enhance Madrasah education system
Iqbal said the MBHTE’s ultimate goal is to establish a transparent, effective, and relevant Bangsamoro education system that will enable the young people to be resilient and thrive in a competitive working environment while demonstrating strong character and good moral values.