Bearing the Brunt

Pupils in a Davao public school. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylkan)As classes open, teachers contend with poor school facilities while parents are confronted with the sheer economics of educating their children. And the kids? The education department inSouthern Mindanao has found a novel, if exploitative, way to make them pay for the government?s negligence and shortcomings.

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

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2 Million New Books Expected for Davao Provinces

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) in Southern Mindanao is expecting the arrival of some two million books to augment the present number of books in the region.

This was bared by Minnie Fabros, DepEd?s spokesperson in the region, who also admitted that the present student-book ratio is still 1:3.

?The supply of books for public school students is still not enough. However, students can look forward to the arrival of 2 million books, although on a staggered basis,? she said.

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Dishonest ABE

How a school?s alleged incompetence and failure to meet government requirements threaten the future of several of its students, many of whom had finished their course but couldn?t graduate.

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

An advertisement for ABE featuring popular actress Heart EvangelistaDAVAO CITY (June 3, 2006) — Charo Divinagracia dreamed of becoming a career woman someday. Thanks to a sister who works abroad and who agreed to pay for her college education, she had the opportunity to pursue that dream.

She picked ABE International College of Business and Accountancy (ABE), a school that boasts of excellent e-business courses, because of its promise of a degree in three years? time and a diploma that would be recognized not only here but also abroad. ABE, a member of the AMA Educational System, had just opened its branch in Davao City when Divinagracia enrolled in Accountancy in 2001.

When Divinagracia reached third year, however, she and her batchmates were advised by the school to shift to another course. The reason: ABE?s accountancy course had not been recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

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