TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division is making the necessary steps so that in the next few years no student of this province would need to undergo the Bridge program of DepEd.

DepEd Leyte Superintendent Aurora Villarente told Leyte Samar Daily Express that without the intention of discarding the Bridge Program in Leyte schools, she would like to improve and upgrade the learning skills and knowledge, thus, skip the Bridge Program.

The Bridge program is a sort of supplementary program for elementary students who did not pass the screening test right after they graduated.

Villarente said they have already proposed some programs to the DepEd Secretary that would help them realize the goal of a Bridge Program-free division.

Villarente admitted this poses a great challenge to her leadership considering the 62 districts covered by Leyte schools.

“All we need is to improve our educational system in our division and see to it that the students would learn what they have to learn before they graduate from elementary,” said Villarente.

The Leyte schools superintendent also told Express that one indication that our students have the capability is the achievement of Kapodlosan Elementary School in MacArthur, Leyte which topped the recent National Achievement Test for elementary schools all over the country.

It was learned from her that 10 out of 20 school topnotchers in the said national test came form Leyte.

She also cited the Lope de Vega High School which topped a national achievement test out contesting other secondary schools throughout the country.

With these, Villarente said “it’s the exception rather than the rule for those schools in the province who have not achieved the same”.

Villarente expressed high hopes that with their new proposed programs being stated already, students undergoing Bridge Program would be minimized and later on would turn zero which could serve as indicator on the quality of education in Leyte Schools .