ALBAY — The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the EduKahon, a standardized and ready-to-deploy school recovery kit designed to ensure uninterrupted learning during calamities.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the rollout at Tabaco National High School in Albay, presenting the kits as part of DepEd’s Learning Continuity strategy.

“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,” Angara said.

The EduKahon will be distributed in three levels: the School Kit for temporary learning spaces, the Teacher Kit for instructional support, and the Learner Kit containing basic school supplies. Each box is intended for one teacher and 40 students, and includes notebooks, pencils, rulers, erasers, scissors, laminated posters, books, hygiene kits, first aid kits, and a solar panel set.

For students like Arianne Chloe Velilla, a Grade 10 learner at Tabaco National High School, the kit provides reassurance 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 said.

DepEd said the contents of each kit will be customized based on the specific needs of affected schools and communities.

“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,” DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp Panontongan said.

The department allocated P4 million from the Basic Education Curriculum for the initial rollout, with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) overseeing distribution and monitoring in disaster-hit public schools and community learning centers nationwide.

DepEd also plans to include the EduKahon in its Adopt-a-School platform, giving partners and donors the opportunity to help in the preparation and distribution of the 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,” Angara said.