The education ministry of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has started the construction of more modern schools for the basic and higher education learners across the region this year.

Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE)-BARMM said Monday that 22 more units of two-storey, 10-classroom school buildings are set for completion across the region.

“These school buildings are expected to be finished within this year,” Iqbal said.

Of the total number of new school buildings, two will be for the BARMM Special Geographic Area in North Cotabato, four for Maguindanao, three for Lanao del Sur, one for Marawi City, two for Basilan, one for Lamitan City, two for Sulu, and two for Tawi-Tawi.

Iqbal said 17 of the buildings are funded under the region’s Special Development Fund (SDF) 2020 amounting to PHP375.2 million that are intended for basic education learners.

“The remaining five school buildings for higher education learners worth PHP96.5 million are to be funded under the General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) 2021,” he said.

Iqbal said the selection of the school beneficiaries underwent thorough validation under the BARMM School-Based Assessment 2020-2021.

“No Bangsamoro should be left behind as far as education is concerned,” he said. (PNA)