Proposed installation of Integrated School in Lubuagan deliberated

Lubuagan, Kalinga― The proposal to install a government integrated school in Lubuagan as solution to issues of tuition fees and easier access to education in the municipality was deliberated on July 7, 2021.

The deliberation was attended by Mayor Charisma Anne Dickpus, Department of Education (DepEd) officials, and representatives from both Saint Theresita’s School (STS) and Kalinga Academy which could be affected by the putting up of a government school at the center of town.

Concerns on the establishment of the integrated school Representatives from the two private schools said the proximity of the proposed establishment of the integrated school by the DepEd will affect their teachers and the number of their enrollees, foreseeing that their school might even close down.

They likewise mentioned of the necessity of preserving the old schools - both Saint Theresita’s School (STS) and Kalinga Academy are well-known as the first two established schools in Kalinga. Kalinga Academy founded in 1927, a secondary school run by American Missionaries and the St. Theresita’s School, founded even earlier in 1924, a Catholic Primary and High School managed by the CICM Belgian Missionaries bolstered the luster of Lubuagan.

The representatives requested that officials concerned could study further if the proposed integrated school should be installed in the town’s center since it may use a wider space in the area. They suggested that the government school could be put up outside the vicinity of the two private schools.

Additionally, Dr. Rey Aranca, the president of STS Alumni, asked for a further presentation of a feasibility study, site development plan and the evaluation for the criteria under DepEd Order No. 40 series 2014 or the Establishment, Merging, Conversion and Naming/Renaming of Public Schools, and Separation of Public School and Annexes in Basic Education.

The private schools, nevertheless, made it clear that they are not against the establishment of the Integrated School as it was discussed that not every parent can afford to enroll their child in a private school.

Suggestions from DepEd officials

DepEd Official Marilyn Pecua, who successfully initiated the Dilag Integrated School, mentioned that the proposed establishment of the Integrated School in Lubuagan has a legal basis and has qualified to the criteria under the DepEd Order No. 40 series 2014.

If the plan pushes through, she said, the school will serve as an extension of the Elementary School in Pudpud Uma, Lubuagan.

“Ikkan tayo ti gundaway dagiyay awanan nga maikkan ti edukasyon, diyay kuma ti eye-opener tayo for the children’s access to education, no other colors,” she said.

Pecua cited that they do not wish to clash with the private schools and there is no intention of putting an end to their operations since the main goal is just bringing education to the community especially to the needy.

Former Principal Gup-ay additionally shared her experience during her stay at STS-Lubuagan saying that students having no sponsors from the private school use promissory notes for a remedy as they can’t pay their tuition fees on time.

“Mapya pay ta awed ijon gubyerno un ja alak tako la kapos man iskwela ja ta anna on integrated school, bay am ah ja elite ta man iskwela ja ud STS and KA” she said.

It can be recalled that in 2019, a general assembly was conducted to deliberate on the matter which 99% of the attendees agreed to the proposal. Grade 7 to 8 enrolments were then opened.

Commitment of Mayor Charisma Anne Dickpus

Mayor Dickpus, during the deliberation, said she would commit her support to the two private schools, explaining that she would extend help to the plans of making their school better.

The mayor, however, emphasized that the proposed establishment of an Integrated School in Lubuagan is indeed a need of the community. She added that the establishment of the Integrated School will also provide more employment to yLubuagens.

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