Teacher Jason Sarno has been teaching at Sapang Munti Elementary School (SMES) in Barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray, Bulacan for over seven years now. He hails from the same town but needs to travel for an hour to get to the school.
The school caters to roughly 94 students, from kinder to Grade 6. There are four teachers in total, with each teacher assigned to two-grade levels.
Distance learning posed a challenge to Teacher Jason and his fellow teachers. They had to ensure that the learning modules are printed weekly for each student.
In instances where supplies run out and the funding for the supplies request is not yet available, the teachers would pay for the expenses in the meantime, which will then be reimbursed by the school. Additionally, they print the modules in booklet form to save paper.
The Operation Blessing’s Disaster Response Team traveled several streams and trekked for an hour to reach SMES to deliver reams of bond paper, ink, and a printer. The team also distributed educational books and toys provided by McDonald’s Philippines, which won the smiles of the children of the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous group.
“We are very grateful to be chosen as the beneficiary of Operation Blessing’s Disaster Response Program! I didn’t expect that we would be chosen. Your donation will help us, teachers, immensely.” Teacher Jason cheerfully said.
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Will you help us reach more schools that lack the supplies needed to hep children access education in remote communities? DONATE through www.operationblessing.ph or contact us at 09399215543 or 09189067753.
DSWD-SB-SP-000061-2021-Nationwide. Valid until November 23, 2022.
(Story by Gyals Visaya)