DepEd flags 165,000-classroom deficit ahead of school opening

National

NINETEEN days before the start of the school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) reports a nationwide shortage of 165,000 classrooms, a problem largely driven by rapid population growth.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the classroom gap has tripled over the past 12 years, rising from 55,000 to its current figure. He acknowledged that the department has been unable to keep pace with the country’s growing number of students.

To help close the gap, DepEd is planning to revive its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program. The initiative, previously responsible for the construction of up to 15,000 classrooms, allows buildings to be completed quickly with payments staggered over a decade.

The shortage continues to force many schools into double or triple shifting schedules, with some areas reporting that children are unable to attend school due to a lack of physical space.

Angara said this situation has left some students staying at home entirely.

In addition to physical infrastructure, the department is looking at ways to optimize available resources. One approach includes improving internet access for senior high school students, allowing them to learn from home.

DepEd believes this could help prioritize classroom space for younger students who need in-person instruction.The agency is also hiring 16,000 new teachers to improve student-teacher ratios, particularly in kindergarten and high school levels.

Currently, the acceptable classroom ratio is one teacher for every 20 to 25 kindergarten students, and one for every 40 to 45 high school students.

Angara also highlighted the Generation HOPE initiative, a partnership in which proceeds from selected products and services help fund classroom construction. “Education is not just a duty, it’s a solemn responsibility we all share,” he said.

“When the government and the private sector unite through partnerships like Generation HOPE, we break down barriers and pave the way for every Filipino child to learn in a safe and inspiring environment. Education is how we secure the future of our nation,” he was quoted in a Philstar report.(MyTVCebu)