Moratorium on the Creation of New Schools, Districts and Divisions

The creation of new schools, districts and divisions is based on rigorous requirements based on honest-to-goodness feasibility study, deed of donation, resolution from concerned LGUs and availability of educational facilities. However, these requirements over time have become mere pieces of paper. Unscheduled random visit informs that there are now over concentration in some areas while in-need areas are left out. The creation has also been largely politically-influenced and motivated. This situation is made worse by further division of jurisdictions and aggravated by increasing MOOE allocation. 

In the case of creation of divisions, Section XXVII of Republic Act 10155 (General Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2012) listed and recognized six divisions (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Maguindanao and Basilan) only. 

In the 2003 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), the key reasons for not attending school has nothing to do with distance (4.2%), no school within the barangay (3.3%) and no regular transportation (0.3%) but more to do with lack of personal interest or low motivation (39.6%), looking for job (13.9%) and high cost of education (13.8%). 

The overhead cost of creating new divisions further cut down what is already meager MOOE allocation to the divisions, instead of going to crucial instructional supervision, monitoring and evaluation activities. 

Despite of the creation of additional divisions no significant improvements are attributable; instead learning outcomes in the NAT continue to be at the bottom of national ranking, 20% of the barangays in the ARMM remain school-less while proliferating in some barangays and instructional supervision is wanting and arbitrary with absentee school and district heads. 

In view of these considerations, the DepEd-ARMM is adopting a moratorium on the creation of new schools, districts and divisions. This moratorium shall cover primary, elementary or secondary schools, mother or annexes/extensions, regular or specialized. 

This moratorium also applies to the recognition of additional pilot madaris in areas where a considerable number of permitted and recognized pilot madaris are already operating. New permit shall only be allowed in other municipalities and only in densely populated areas where parents can afford to pay private matriculation. 

Effective June 1, 2012, new request for creation shall NOT be accepted. Earlier submitted applications shall be held in abeyance. 

This moratorium shall stay in affect pending the final report of the Technical Working Group (TWG) organized by this office to undertake a study on this matter. 

All bureaus and division offices have been directed to circulate the memo in their respective jurisdiction through appropriate media. Division Offices are directed to coordinate with local radio station to disseminate this moratorium to the wider community.