MORE than half a million notebooks were distributed for free to public school students in the City of Valenzuela to help enhance their learning as part of City Mayor WIN Gatchalian’s pet project, WIN ang Edukasyon Program.

Distributed since 2004 and supervised for the last four years by the Special Projects Office (SPO), these free learning materials, along with free worktexts for public elementary students, are viewed to boost students’ participation rate.  Problems on availability of schooling needs, like notebooks, are a recognized factor why student’s interest on attending classes wanes. 

Distribution coordinator, Ms. Jo Urutia, revealed the supply tally of 558,870 pieces of quality notebooks which they just finished distributing to 111,774 public elementary and high school students.

“These are Mayor WIN’s gift to the future of Valenzuela City – our students.  We hope that these will inspire them to study harder to eventually play parts in the progress of the city and the country,” SPO Head, Ms. Dorothy G. Evangelista said.

And the students feel that the local government is looking after their welfare because of these freebies.  “Isa ito sa inaabangan ko tuwing pasukan. (This is something I look forward to every turn of the new school year)” Eunice Liwanag, a student of Paso De Blas Elementary School said during the distribution at their school.  In exchange of these "gifts," she promised to study even harder.

Yearly, aside from notebooks, the local government also distributes to teachers free lesson planners, journals, class registers and other teaching materials.  Daycare students, likewise, receive free textbooks and other learning materials.

As a concrete proof of the local government continuous investment on education, some PhP 55.3 million worth of 49 new classrooms at public elementary and high schools also welcomed the students at the start of the school year 2012-2013, apart from the improved facilities on most of the campuses. 

The notebooks and lesson planners boost of new design by the Public Information Office which features highlighted projects on education and reflects strong hopes for more achievements in education from Valenzuelano students.