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Headstart in need of classrooms
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Posted on Jun 05 2000
The CNMI Headstart Program is batting for extra classrooms to address overcrowding in some of the 15 Headstart centers all over the CNMI.
Headstart Program Director Dino Taitano has written a letter to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation requesting for some classroom space at vacant houses in Garapan that the housing agency is reportedly giving away.
Mr. Taitano said Public School System officials who have been lobbying for the additional classrooms at NMHC are being asked to produce accurate statistics on the actual number of students under he Headstart Program.
He said that although figures have already been furnished for NMHC’s reference, the housing corporation is still asking for more data to assess the program’s actual need.
“What we have gotten back so far is that they need more numbers so that they can easily justify.
The Headstart center in Garapan, for example, has exceeded its maximum student capacity, according to Mr. Taitano.
“Garapan is way overcrowded. Currently, it has a total of 80 children, 40 in the morning and another 40 in the afternoon,” he said.
Aside from the students currently enrolled at the center, the Garapan Headstart still has another 80 students in the waiting list.
“For the final classroom, we have a waitlist which we aim to grant to the qualified students. We are not even looking at the high income parents,” Mr. Taitano added.
The Headstart Program is not only looking at asking for more classrooms but also for parents centers.
The PaoPao Headstart center, which is nearing closure due to the dilapidated state of its structure, is being targeted for a parents’ center, according to Mr. Taitano.
“But we have to renovate the roof because when it rains, it leaks. If it’s fixed, we could either use it as an office space,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Headstart Policy Council, is also currently operating without a main office.
HSPC Vice Chair James L. Hemley earlier raised issues on the lack of a council office where members could get together and discuss issues concerning some 800 eligible pre-schoolers in the CNMI. (MM)
