Parents in Baguio City are joining efforts to help ensure the safety of learners in schools through the “Kaagapay Task Force.”
Peter Wasing, president of the Federated Association of Parents-Teachers Associations in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), said the program was launched about two weeks ago and is being piloted in two schools in Baguio.
“We have launched the Kaagapay Task Force program about two weeks ago and it is now being piloted in two schools in Baguio,” Wasing said.
He said parents volunteer to help monitor school premises and ensure the safety of learners.
“Ang ginagawa ng parents ay mag-assist sa pagcheck ng gamit ng mga papasok na estudyante. Kapag nakapasok na sa eskwela, nag-iikot naman sila sa loob ng compound, sa mga CR (comfort room) para kung may makita na problema, sasabihin sa teachers (Parents assist in checking the belongings of students entering the school compound. Once learners are inside, parents on duty patrol the school premises, including comfort rooms, and report any problems they find to teachers),” he said.
At least two parents are assigned on duty at a time. They wear uniform shirts and identification cards to establish their authority to assist in the school.
Parents also ensure that visitors and other members of the public entering the school premises are recorded in the logbook and asked to present identification to help ensure that only authorized persons enter the campus.
Wasing said the Department of Education school calendar has 201 school days.
“With several parents, we can have one duty day in a year as part of the contribution to ensuring the safety of the children,” he said.
Wasing said the program is being expanded to other schools in Baguio and Benguet. La Union has also contacted the federation about possibly implementing the program in the province.
“The more schools that will adopt it, the better for the learners,” he said.
Wasing said the education and safety of children, both at home and in school, are not solely the responsibility of teachers and parents but are a shared responsibility of the community. (PNA)
