More students, not enough classrooms seen during first day of school year 2019-2020

On the opening day of classes for school year 2019-2020 on Monday, some schools saw an increase in the number of enrolled students while others lacked classrooms.

More than 15,000 students trooped to Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City, the school with the highest number of high school students in Metro Manila.

According to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday, a total of 15,327 students are enrolled for the school year. This is higher compared to the 14,500 students enrolled in 2018.

"Tumaas talaga. It's because of the incoming Grade 7... We have different markets here lalo na sa Grade 6 na school no, dito sila pumupunta," said Dr. Proceso Lera, principal of the school.

Since not all students could be accommodated in the gymnasium, the flag ceremony was held in each classroom past 6 a.m.

The first shift is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. while the second shift is from 1 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.

Lera said 600 chairs were repaired during the Brigada Eskwela.

He also ensured that problems have already been addressed in the previous weeks.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Major General inspected the security measures at Batasan Hills National High School and was satisfied with what he saw.

At the Antipolo National High School, more than 11,700 students trooped to their classrooms early on Monday.

The school is the third most populated junior high school in the country, according to a report on Unang Balita by Juancho Trivino and Joyce Pring.

The teacher-student ratio in this school is 1:70. There are 400 teachers and almost 100 classrooms in the more or less two-hectare school.

Unang Hirit put up a Balik Eskwela photo booth for students.

Meanwhile, at the Signal Village National High School in Taguig City, Education Secretary Leonor Briones led the flag ceremony, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday.

The management of the school assured the public that it is prepared for the beginning of classes as local officials and personnel have been deployed at the school gate and pedestrian crossing.

Briones is set to inspect the classrooms of Grade 8 and Grade 12 students as well as the science laboratory of the school. After that, she will visit the Comembo Elementary School in Makati City.

Briones has welcomed about 27.2 million students from all over the country to school year 2019-2020.

She gave the assurance that the Department of Education is prepared to address the concerns of students as it had put up hotlines and established command centers nationwide.

Classrooms

However, in San Antonio, Northern Samar, senior high school students of the Agro-Industrial High School do not have any classroom to use this school year as the construction of a building was abandoned by the contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

According to a separate report on Unang Balita, it was in 2016 when the project was started.

In Rizal High School in Pasig City, more than 11,000 students will use the 200 classrooms in the said school, with 1:50 teacher-student ratio, a report by Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad said.

Nasa 200 ang class rooms na gagamitin sa Rizal High School at mayroon itong 1:50 teacher to students ratio pic.twitter.com/0A6KqB53KV

— Mark Makalalad (@MMakalalad) June 2, 2019

While the school was having its flag ceremony, six students got dizzy and were assisted by the teachers.

6 na estudyante, nakaranas ng pagkahilo sa kasagsagan ng flag ceremony sa Rizal High School sa Pasig pic.twitter.com/sjRrlbYenr

— Mark Makalalad (@MMakalalad) June 2, 2019

At Acacia Elementary School in Malabon City, meanwhile, the construction of a new school building is not yet finished, prompting school authorities to use plywood to further divide classrooms, according to a report by Darlene Cay on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Water supply

Meanwhile, at CAA Elementary School in Las Piñas City, water supply is a problem.

Unang Hirit brought some pails which may be used by the 11,700 students enrolled, according to a report on Unang Balita by Connie Sison.

The Bureau of Fire Protection supplied water on Monday for the students' use as water service is rationed in the city.

CAA Elementary School has the highest number of elementary students enrolled in the country.

More than 100 special education students are enrolled in this school this year.

Forty new classrooms are still being constructed and are expected to be done by July.

Teacher-to-student ratio is 1:55 in this school.

School supplies

Some 2,000 kindergarten students at the Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City were given free school bags and school supplies by GMA Kapuso Foundation, according to a report by Susan Enriquez on Unang Balita.

 A school teacher said the giving of free school bags and school supplies is a big help to the students since many do not have the means to buy what they need.

"Malaking malaking tulong. Lalo silang mamo-motivate. Sisipagin sila lalo," she said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News