MANILA, Dec. 11 (PNA) -- To ensure that students' learning would not be affected by the current turmoil in Maguindanao, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus on Thursday said that the department will assist the regional education office under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in providing emergency learning modules to the affected schoolchildren.

“We will be sending educational learning modules for home study of the school children for this emergency,” Lapus said when reached for comment about reports that many schools in the province, particularly in Shariff Aguak have closed, while among areas where schools opened, there are only a handful of students.

At the same time, he said they will also send nurses and guidance counselors to the province.

“These nurses and guidance counselors will conduct stress debriefing and psychosocial intervention on our schoolchildren and even the teachers,” Lapus added.

He said that the DepEd Central Office is coordinating with the schools superintendents in the province, particularly in the affected areas to ensure that the education of the children will not be affected.

But the official said they can only do so much, noting that since Maguindanao is included in the ARMM, decisions lie with the regional education authorities. He added though that DepEd is ready to provide all necessary assistance. “ARMM is autonomous with its own Cabinet and budget. It also has its own education secretary, Udtog Kawit but we will help when they allow,” Lapus further said.

Government forces have arrested more than 60 persons linked to the November 23 carnage and what the Palace described as a “looming rebellion" in the province which was among the reasons cited by Malacanang when it placed Maguindanao under martial law. (PNA)