Over 27M students return to school for first day of classes

Over 27 million students from kindergarten to Grade 12 went back to public and private schools on Monday for the first day of classes for school year 2018-2019.

Though the usual problems persist in some public schools — lack of classrooms, confusion among students and parents/guardians, overcrowding — some schools started the day without a hitch.

A common scene during first day of classes: Parents and guardians searching for the room assignment of their children.

A Grade 6 pupil from Dr. Albert Alejandro Elementary school in Sampaloc, Manila, plays with his brother during the class opening for the school year.

Grade 6 pupils of Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary school in Sampaloc, Manila, sit on the ground as they wait for their classroom assignment during the first day of classes for school year 2018-2019.

Grade 4 pupils of Dr. Alejandro Albert in Sampaloc, Manila, start the opening of the school year 2018-2019 with a prayer.

Security

In an interview on Unang Balita, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said so far the opening of classes has been relatively peaceful.

"So far, ngayon, wala naman tayong natatanggap na anong insidente at sa lahat ng mga schools," he said, adding they have placed police assistance desks in several schools.

He said the common crime during school opening is snatching.

He also urged students not to talk to strangers to avoid incidents of kidnapping.

"May pangamba yung ating mga magulang, baka mamaya kung sinu-sino ang humatak sa kanilang mga anak. Kaya napakaimportante dito 'yung sabi nga sa ating mga bata, do not talk to strangers. Huwag silang sumama," Albayalde said.

All systems go

Citing data from the Department of Education, ACT Teacher's party-list Representative Antonio Tinio on Sunday said there is still a shortage of about 18,000 classrooms in Metro Manila alone, resulting in having at least 50 to 60 students per classroom.

Tinio pointed to the lack of additional space to build on as one reason for classroom shortage in Metro Manila.

Despite this, DepEd, in a statement on the eve of school opening, said it is "all systems go" as an estimated 27,757,546 children troop back to public and private schools. —Photos by Danny Pata/KBK, GMA News