26 million students expected to troop back to school on Monday

A day before the reopening of classes, Malacañang on Sunday asked the public to exhibit a spirit of bayanihan towards some 26 million grade school and high school students who will be starting another academic year.

“Nananawagan po tayo sa lahat ng mga mamamayan na pairalin ang diwa ng bayanihan sa pagbubukas ng klase. Magtulungan po tayo para tiyakin ang kaligtasan at kaginhawaan ng mga kabataang mag-aaral. Lampas sa 26 milyong mga mag-aaral ang inaasahang magbabalik eskwela,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in an interview aired over state-run dzRB.

Another four million college and university students are set to return to school in the following days as well, Coloma added.

“Makipag-ugnayan po tayo nang masinsin sa isa’t isa para maging maayos at matahimik ang pagbabalik-eskwela ng ating mga anak, kapatid, kaanak, kapitbahay, at ka-barangay,” Coloma added.

43,183 new classrooms promised

For its part, the palace said it is confident that the country’s education system is adequately prepared to meet new and returning students on Monday.

“Ayon sa pahayag ng DepEd, magtatayo ng 43,183 bagong silid-aralan sa taong ito upang tukuyin ang pagdami ng mga mag-aaral, at upang paghandaan ang ganap na pagpapatupad ng K-to-12 senior high school program,” Coloma said, referring to the new program implemented by the government which extends basic education for two more years.

Grade 7 is the first year of the six years of high school in K-12. Senior high school will be phased in when School Year 2016-2017 starts.

Coloma said existing classrooms will also be renovated in preparation for the full implementation of the K-12 program.

“Pinaghahandaan na ng DepEd ang unang batch ng junior high school na magsisimula sa 2016. Bukod sa mga bagong silid-aralan, kukumpunihin din ang 9,502 classrooms. Magdaragdag din ng 1.59 na milyong bagong upuan para sa mga silid-aralan. Sampung bagong library hubs ang idaragdag sa 213 na library hubs sa buong bansa. Mag-e-empleyo rin ang DepEd ng 33,194 na bagong guro at 1,500 na empleyadong gaganap ng mga tungkulin kaugnay ng pagtuturo o teaching-related staff,” Coloma said.

The Education sector enjoys the biggest chunk of the national budget, as mandated by the constitution. This year, DepEd received some P335.4 billion in funds.

“Sa taong 2014, ang budget ng Department of Education ay umabot sa 335.4-bilyong piso, ang pinakamataas na alokasyon sa lahat ng kagawaran ng pambansang pamahalaan, alinsunod sa itinadhana ng Saligang Batas na ang pinakamataas na prayoridad sa pambansang budget ay dapat iukol sa edukasyon,” Coloma said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/BM, GMA News