BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance disaster preparedness in education, the Department of Education (DepEd) has institutionalized EduKahon, a standardized and ready-to-deploy school recovery kit to ensure uninterrupted education for learners and teachers even during emergencies and disasters.

As part of its Learning Continuity strategy, the EduKahon was launched during Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s visit to Tabaco National High School in Albay on Thursday. The kits provide quick replacements for lost school supplies and learning materials, support teaching and learning in evacuation centers, temporary learning spaces, and strengthen DepEd’s disaster response.

“Ang ating mga mag-aaral at guro ang unang naaapektuhan tuwing may sakuna. Sa pamamagitan ng EduKahon, tinitiyak natin na tuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata at hindi mapuputol ang kanilang progreso sa kabila ng mga pangyayari,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The EduKahon will be distributed in three levels: the School Kit for immediate school recovery and temporary learning spaces, the Teacher Kit for instructional support and the Learner Kit for continued access to basic learning materials.

Each kit supports one teacher and 40 students and contains essential school supplies such as pencils, notebooks, rulers, erasers, scissors, laminated posters (alphabet, multiplication, number tables), books, hygiene kits, and first aid kits.

For learners like Arianne Chloe Velilla, a Grade 10 student from Tabaco National High School, the EduKahon brings hope by supporting her learning needs especially during emergencies. “Pinakanagustuhan ko po yung solar panel kit po kasi hindi lang po ito sa mga guro makakatulong kundi para rin sa estudyante. Alam naman natin sa panahon ngayon maraming nangyayaring kalamidad,” she shared.

To ensure relevance, the EduKahon kits will also be customized based on the type of recipient and the specific needs of affected schools.

“Itong lahat ng inisyatibo ni Secretary Angara, under the guidance of our President Ferdinand Marcos, ay para ito sa lahat ng estudyante at mga guro. It’s not just for the continuity of education but also for their safety. ‘Yan talaga yung number one na pinapahalagahan natin,” said DepEd Undersecretary Fatima Lipp Panontongan.

DepEd has allocated P4 million from the Basic Education Curriculum for its initial rollout. Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) will lead the distribution and monitoring of kits to calamity-affected public schools and community learning centers (CLCs) nationwide. To improve implementation, EduKahon will be integrated into the Adopt-a-School platform, giving partners and donors the opportunity to directly help in the preparation and deployment of the EduKahon kits.

“Muli, hinihikayat natin ang ating mga private partners na suportahan ang EduKahon. Pagtulungan po natin na mas mabilis makabalik sa pag-aaral at makabangon ang ating mga apektadong paaralan, mag-aaral, at guro,” Sec. Angara said.

*All Photos from DepEd