Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent, Rizalino Tortosa, said yesterday that classes for school year 2008-2009 will start on June 10 and encouraged parents and guardians to enroll their children as early as possible.

The Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City has already started its enrolment due to a big number of students expected to enroll this year, he said.

Tortosa emphasized that no enrolment fees will be collected from enrollees and assured that even those who failed to settle their past dues can still enroll. But he said that schools can refuse more enrollees once the maximum number of 55 students per classroom is reached.

Fees of Boy and Girl Scout registration and membership, Red Cross, Anti-Dengue, PTCA and other miscellaneous can be collected later and not during enrolment, he said.

Tortosa added that the usual problems over lack of teachers, classrooms, chairs and textbooks are expected to crop up, but these can be resolved with the help of the local government units through the Local School Board.

He said the LGUs can augment the teaching force of the schools by hiring additional literacy workers.

Meanwhile, Tortosa also said that the scheduled Brigade Eskwela on May 19-23 in all schools under the Negros Occidental division has been moved to June 2-7.

Brigada Eskwela involves volunteer teachers, parents, students, community members and other organizations doing minor repairs on schools in preparation for the start of the school year.*NAB

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