By Brian Campued
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the education sector’s preparedness during disasters, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday launched the “EduKahon” kits to ensure learning continuity in affected schools.
During a visit to Tabaco National High School in Albay, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the government’s commitment to addressing the issues and responding to the needs of students and teachers—especially in times of calamities and widespread flooding, which disrupt classes.
“Ang ating mga mag-aaral at guro ang unang naaapektuhan tuwing may sakuna. Sa pamamagitan ng EduKahon, tinitiyak natin na tuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata at hindi mapuputol ang kanilang progreso sa kabila ng mga pangyayari,” Angara said.
The ready-to-deploy kits will be distributed at three levels: school kits for temporary classrooms, teacher kits, and learner kits.
Each EduKahon kit for schools contains a first aid kit, solar-powered lamp and battery, megaphone or portable public address system, chairs, and tables, smart TV or projector, and portable WiFi router.
Teacher kits, meanwhile, contain instructional materials, laptop and powerbank, hygiene kit, “Go Bag,” and food.
Learner kits contain school supplies, hygiene kit, emergency kit, laptop or tablet and power bank, and food.
“This is both a physical and symbolic box—isang kahon ng pag-asa, kaalaman, at pagkakataon,” Angara noted. “Dahil sa bawat EduKahon, kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan ang ating iniaahon.”
The department’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) will oversee the distribution and monitoring of the kits to calamity-hit public schools and community learning centers.
According to DepEd, the contents of EduKahon kits will also be customized depending on the needs of affected schools.
About P4 million fund is allocated for the initial rollout of the program, which will be sourced from DepEd’s basic education curriculum budget.
Angara added that the EduKahon will also be integrated into the Adopt-a-School platform to allow private partners and donors to directly support the initiative.
“Muli, hinihikayat natin ang ating mga private partners na suportahan ang EduKahon. Pagtulungan po natin na mas mabilis makabalik sa pag-aaral at makabangon ang ating mga apektadong paaralan, mag-aaral, at guro,” the DepEd chief stated.
EduKahon, according to DepEd, is inspired by the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) “School-in-a-Box” initiative—which contains essential education supplies packed in a metal box for deployment during emergencies.
-jpv
