DepEd eyes leasing closed private schools to ease classroom shortage

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it is planning to tap shuttered private schools and other private properties to address the country’s classroom shortage.

In partnership with the Student First Coalition, the DepEd conducted a Classroom Market Scoping Activity with real estate developers, government agencies, and property management groups to evaluate private sector capacity and other strategies.

The activity featured the presentation of DepEd’s Standard Classroom Specifications, classroom needs, and the details of its Leasing Pilot Program.

“Kung may mga paaralan at gusaling nakatengga at maaari namang magamit, buksan natin ito para sa mga kabataang nangangailangan ngayon,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angaray said.

(If there are unused schools and buildings and these can be utilized, let’s open them for students who are in need.)

The insights gathered during the market scoping will be discussed in the upcoming Classroom Summit, where the DepEd will consolidate reform proposals and new models of school infrastructure delivery.

One of the properties that the DepEd is eyeing for a possible lease is a private school in Laguna that has been closed since 2020.

It is located near Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated National High School, which has a deficit of 22 classrooms.

With a 1,385-square-meter campus, the private school has seven classrooms, a cafeteria, an office, and a covered court with a stage.

The DepEd said the possible leasing of private schools will complement and not replace its long-term infrastructure programs to bridge the 165,000-classroom backlog.

“Instead of waiting two to three years for classrooms to be built, we’re looking at existing structures that can be adapted within six months for our learners’ needs,” DepEd Undersecretary Ronald Mendoza said.

Earlier, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported that only 22 classrooms have been completed out of 1,700 that were supposed to be built this year. — JMA, GMA Integrated News