DepEd addressing classroom shortage, says Briones

Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday said the Department of Education is addressing the problem of classroom shortage, according to a report on Balitanghali by Tina Panganiban-Perez.

A total of 85,000 classrooms are expected to be added this year, mostly in Metro Manila. The DepEd said multi-storey buildings are the solution in the National Capital Region due to the limited space available.

School year 2018-2019 opened on Monday with 27.7 million students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 going to their classes in public and private schools.

"Ang policy natin, we should not refuse any child the right to education," Briones said.

But with more students enrolling, the classroom shortage is more felt.

The DepEd said there is a shortage in classrooms in NCR and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In NCR, the problem is caused by the lack of available space.

“While there is a shortage, totoo naman 'yan, pero hindi 'yan kasalanang mortal ng Department of Education. Ang problema na palagi namin paulit-ulit, 'yun ang lack of buildable space,” Briones explained.

A temporary solution to the problem is to divide big classrooms into two or to convert offices to classrooms. “'Yung malalaking classroom, kino-convert to the right size of expected learners. 'Yung mga opisinang malalaki ng ating officials, ginawang mga classrooms,” Briones said.

In some schools, temporary learning spaces have been identified as old classrooms are being demolished to make way for buildings. “We’ll go as high as four storeys para sa mga crowded places,” Briones explained.

Even local government units are helping address the classroom shortage.

“Local government are identifying open spaces outside the centers of the city para doon sila mag-build ng mga schools at mag-bus na ang mga bata,” Briones said.

The DepEd said 97 percent of schools throughout the country have met the ideal teacher-student ratio.

Briones added that P8 billion will be earmarked for computers and tablets this year.

At the same time, Briones said her department is closely coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education to see if high school dropouts before the senior high school program was implemented can return to school and enroll in college.

“Kinakausap namin ang CHED kung ano ang desisyon nila ngayon sa dating program ng high school na tumigil at pumasa naman sa exam natin sa junior high school. Kung puwede silang i-admit diretso sa university,” Briones said.

Briones said the two agencies are meeting to decide on the issue.

Visit to QCHS

The DepEd secretary went to Quezon City High School on Monday morning for the school opening.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones visits the Quezon City High School for the opening of classes on Monday, June 4, 2018. Briones advises students to focus on their studies and to read beyond what their teachers assign to them. Tina Panganiban-Perez

She advised students to focus on their studies, read, and go beyond just finishing their assignments.

Janet Dionio, principal of QCHS, said they still lack teachers. Seven posts for Master Teacher are vacant but they were sent personnel for Teacher 1 posts. The school addressed the problem by adding substitute teachers.

A total of 3,052 students enrolled at QCHS for school year 2018-2019.

The school has just enough classrooms, chairs, and modules for the present number of students. However, there were still students enrolling on Monday.

QCHS can accommodate 50 to 55 students per classroom, but school officials would prefer to follow the DepEd recommended class size of 40 to 45 students. —With Tina Panganiban-Perez/KG/RSJ, GMA News