Legazpi City- Some public schools in Bicol Region have begun admitting learners who have been displaced by the continuing crisis in Marawi City.

Public Information Officer Ms. Mayflor Jumamil said that based from the latest enrollment data forwarded to the Oplan Balik Eskwela Information and Action Center (OBEIAC) of the Department of Education Regional Office V, there are already four students from the war-torn area of Marawi City who transferred and have been officially enrolled in public schools in Bicol since the start of enrollment for Schoolyear 2017-2018.

The report forwarded to the Regional OBEIAC revealed that one of them enrolled in Daet Elementary School while the other three enrolled in Jose Zurbito Sr. Elementary School in Masbate City. Right now students already started attending their regular classes along with their Bicolano schoolmates and teachers.

According to Jumamil, the DepEd Region V accorded special consideration to these students so that education continues despite their traumatic experience in Mindanao. They were admitted by the schools even without providing school documents during enrollment.

“The Regional Office followed the directives of DepED Central Office, all the Marawi learners were admitted by the schools in Bicol even without presenting any school documents required for transfer,” Jumamil said.

Meanwhile, Jumamil added that the Regional Office and the thirteen Division Offices in the entire Region are still open to welcome transferees from Mindanao area until the last week of the month.

Overall, DepED Central Office accounted about 20,000 displaced learners in Marawi City following the armed conflict between the military and members of the Maute group. ORD-PAU/MKA