BURAUEN, Leyte – The local government here has established a high school in an upland farming community in a bid to encourage more elementary graduates to proceed with secondary education.
School head Adolfo Raga said they have to start classes in makeshift classrooms at the Buraburon National High School this school year as 90 students have signified their interest to study in the new campus closer to their homes.
“Since we don’t have maintenance budget yet, we have to ask donations from our friends for learning materials and gather extra furniture from other schools,” Raga shared.
Town Mayor Juanito Renomeron has pushed for the opening of a new school in Barangay Tagadtaran to serve 15 upland barangays, noting that many children stopped going to school after Grade 6. The campus is projecting about 200 enrollees every year.
The local government had set aside P3.2 million for the site development and construction of a three-classroom building in Brgy. Tagadtaran, some 13 kilometers upland from the town center. Completion of the new building is set early next month.
“The new high school will bring hope to hundreds of elementary graduates who have been discouraged by distance to continue learning,” Raga said. One of the student is a 21-year-old father who graduated elementary nine years ago, according to the school official.
“Many of our enrollees have been out of school for years. We’re planning to come up with a way to help them catch up with classroom learning,” Raga added.
The farthest barangay covered by the new campus is Villa Corazon where children have to spend P120 daily for transportation to study in the nearest campus in town.
Christian Caca, 14, a Grade student from Tagadtaran said his family saved a lot after he transferred to the new campus.
“Last year, I spent P60 daily for fare alone, but now P12 is just enough daily for my refreshment,” the aspiring professional basketball player said.
The Department of Education regional office in Palo, Leyte approved the school opening through a memorandum issued on May 17, 2018, but have not yet provided maintenance funds pending some documentary requirements. (Note: The author is the school head of the Tagadtaran Elementary School in Barangay Tagadtaran, Burauen, Leyte)
