Back-to-school woes in Boracay
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY – An elementary school here is faced with the perennial problem of shortage of classrooms and teachers.
Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Superintendent Victorina Laroza said the Manoc-Manoc Elementary School has 100 to 110 Grade 1 pupils per classroom this year – way above the national teacher-to-pupil ratio.
“The influx of migrant workers in the island contributed to the unusually high number of enrollees in the public elementary school in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc," she explained.
Laroza added that reelected Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling is addressing the problems of elementary pupils and teachers at the Manoc-Manoc Elementary School through the Municipal School Board.
"We also urge our public school teachers to make the opening of classes a wholesome experience for elementary pupils," Laroza stressed.
Aklan Cong. Florencio Miraflores, for his part, he would coordinate with Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz to address the shortage of elementary school teachers in public and private elementary schools in Aklan.
In a related development, Laroza also pointed out the implementation of integrated curriculum for Muslim pupils this year at the Balabag National High School. She also thanked the teachers and the community for the successful one-week "Brigada Eskwela 2007."