N. Luzon education officials brace for 'ballooning' enrollment

The nightmare experienced by education officials on the first day of classes Monday may get worse next week, when "late" enrollees try to sign up for classes. Department of Education (DepEd) officer-in-charge for Cagayan Valley Mario Ramirez voiced fears the late enrollees may further crowd schools at more than 100 students per classroom. Radio dzRH reported Tuesday that Ramirez said the number of students had already doubled in San Agustin and Jones towns in Isabela province. He said that with the expected "ballooning" of the rolls in schools by next week, the "100-students-per-classroom" ratio is "almost a certainty." While he did not give figures on how many students have enrolled in schools in the region so far, Ramirez said the local DepEd already allowed "double- and triple-shifting" of classrooms just to accommodate the students. Ramirez also admitted his biggest problem for next week is how to "cram" the new students into the already crowded classrooms. Despite Malacañang's claims last month, overcrowded classrooms and schools and the perennial lack of teachers and textbooks marred Monday's opening of classes. - GMANews.TV