Cabancalan school gets new classrooms

Cabancalan school gets new classrooms
Private donor hopes act sets an example to other firms
Sun.Star Cebu
May 27, 2010


With the help of the private sector, public elementary schools in Mandaue City will have new classrooms this school year.

A classroom, built for P340,000, was donated to Mandaue City by a private donor through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

School principal Aliena Quimque received the donation for Cabancalan I Elementary School.

In the same occasion, an P800,000-worth furnished pre-school classroom, funded by the Department of Education, was also turned over to Quimque.

Quimque said the first classroom is for grade two pupils while the latter is for preschoolers as it already has desks, tables and cabinets. 


Good sign
"It is a good sign of partnership," said Mayor Jonas Cortes, referring to PBSP and Mandaue City government.

"We will always consider NGOs (nongovernment organizations) as partners in development," he added.

Private donor Benedict Que, the president and CEO of Golden Prince Hotel, turned over the classrooms to Quimque, adding two more classrooms to the 30-room elementary school.

The school has a population of 1,900 pre-school to grade six pupils living in the said community.

"Hope this will serve as an example to other companies, to do what is best for the community," Que said in his speech. 


Shortage 
Quimque, in an interview, admitted the shortage of classrooms is one of the school's problems.

With the two new classrooms, the school will also need three to four more teachers in addition to her 34-strong teaching force.

She will submit her request for additional teachers once the enrollment will be finalized this June.

Guests and witnesses in yesterday's occasion were PBSP chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz, City Schools superintendent Virginia Zapanta, Que's wife and elementary school officers and teachers.

Last month, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. also donated P4.8 million worth of classrooms in the public elementary schools of Barangays Pagsabungan and Canduman. OCP