Marawi schools resume classes

MARAWI CITY - A dozen public schools in the war-ravaged city of Marawi have resumed classes 5 months after militants lay siege to the country's only Islamic City in the southern Philippines and recently liberated by security forces.

In an effort to help the schools, the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao drafted recovery plans and programs for students displaced by the crisis. Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School, one of the 12 schools that officially resumed classes, started gathering students and enrolled them as early as July.

Norhanifah Alikhan, a Grade 6 teacher of Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School, said: "July pa lang may mga magulang na nag enroll ng kanilang mga anak since malayo naman ang school namin sa ground zero.  Kung may mas nagsasakripisyo po sa panahon ngayon, hindi po kaming mga guro yun, kung hindi ang mga estudyante."

"Nakita po namin sa mga bata na sa kabila ng mga hindi magandang nangyari ay gusto pa rin po nila mag aral. Amid and beyond times of conflict, students need quality education," she added.

Sohayli Alan, a Grade 6 student in the same school, said "kahit na magulo po sa lugar namin, gusto ko pa rin mag-aral kasi gusto ko po matupad ang mga pangarap ko." The 14-year old Sohayli said he dreams of becoming a member of the police force and vowed to study harder and finish schooling to achieve his future and provide a better life for his family and serve the community.

"Pangarap ko po maging pulis para kung may manggugulo ulit sa aming lugar, ako na po ang magtatanggol sa kanila," he said.

The schools that resumed classes were Sultan Conding Elementary School, Sikap Elementary School, Cabingan Primary School, Banga Elementary School, Datu Tambak Elementary School, Rorogagus Elementary School, Bito Elementary School, Pendolonan Elementary School, Abdulazis Elementary School, Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School, Sugod Elementary School, and Mipaga Elementary School.

Aside from school rehabilitation, DepEd-ARMM said it will also work on giving assistance to students and school employees as far as their psychological and social needs. During the ARMM's People's Day on October 30, teachers and students availed services provided by the various line agencies of the regional government. 

Some 4,000 residents displaced by the fighting have also returned home and started rebuilding what was left in their village while government rehabilitation efforts begin. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman also said the regional government will assist residents to start anew and ordered social workers to see the needs of the returning refugees. (Bureau of Public Information)

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