THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said over 4 million learners were affected in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.8 quake and aftershocks in parts of Mindanao.

In a teleradio interview, DepEd Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm Garma said over 100,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel were also affected.

“More than 4 million na ‘yung affected learners natin. Kapag sinabi nating (Our affected learners are more than 4 million. When we say) affected, they may be affected not in the schools but even in their homes, apektado ‘yung mga bahay nila (their houses were affected). And also, around 156,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel,” he said.

Some were reported to have lost consciousness during the event “out of fear or panic,” while reports of casualties and minor injuries are still subject to validation.

“We already had a report na mayroong isang estudyante na naging (that one student became a) casualty, but not in the school. I think a victim of a landslide in some area in Sarangani, hindi pa natin exactly ma-identify (we cannot identify exactly yet),” Garma said.

The education official said the safety and mental well-being of learners should be prioritized before the resumption of classes.

“Number 1 dito ‘yung trauma muna ng mga bata, mai-settle down muna sila in terms of ‘yung kanilang nasirang bahay, mga nasirang imprastraktura diyan sa mga lugar na iyan (First and foremost here is the trauma of the children, they should be settled down first in terms of damaged homes, damaged infrastructures in those areas),” Garma said, citing schools in Sarangani and General Santos City.

“Iyon muna siguro, then we’ll see, in terms of the rehabilitation, kung paano tayo magpapatuloy ng ating pag-aaral (That should be prioritized first, then we’ll see in terms of rehabilitation, how we can continue our learning).”

For damaged schools, alternative delivery modes (ADM) of learning will be put in place at the appropriate timeline.

Schools may also opt for catch-up classes if ADMs are inapplicable due to the unavailability of electricity, water, and internet.

Based on the agency’s rapid assessment. more than 1,000 classrooms sustained minor to total damage.

On Monday, a video of a school building collapsing at the Matanao National High School went viral online as the powerful quake jolted parts of Mindanao.

“Condemned building na talaga iyon kaya walang gumagamit nun. Kaya doon sa report natin, walang estudyante doon sa building na iyon (That building is already condemned, that’s why it’s unused. Based on our report, no learners are inside that building),” Garma said.

School infrastructures that sustained major or total damage already have “compromised structural integrity” and will be subject to demolition, he added.

Garma, meanwhile, recognized the preparedness of public school teachers as they prioritized safeguarding the welfare of learners during the earthquake.

“Hindi po iniwan ng ating mga guro yung mga bata at sila ho ‘yung nagpipilit na pakalmahin ‘yung mga bata. In fact, nakita natin niyayakap nila ‘yung mga bata, pinoproteksyunan talaga (Our teachers didn’t abandon our children, and they are the ones insisting to calm our kids. In fact, we saw some of them embracing learners, really protecting them),” he said.

He relayed the message from Education Secretary Sonny Angara, as he thanked all teachers for their protective acts.

“So, maraming maraming salamat sa ating mga guro na bayani talaga, instinct talaga nila na ang uunahin nila ay iyong kapakanan ng mga bata (Thank you very much to our teachers who are real heroes, and their instinct is to prioritize the welfare of the kids),” Garma said. (PNA)