Naic school has 2 standard, 6 makeshift classrooms for 1,800 students

The classroom shortage in the country is quite pronounced at the Calubcob Elementary School in Naic, Cavite, where its 1,800 grade schoolers are forced to share cramped space in two standard classrooms and six makeshift ones.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," the school has been lent a few vacant units at a nearby housing project; however, the school children still do not have sufficient space to move around while in class.

In one class, those in the front row are already within arm's reach of the blackboard. In another room, some seats are almost outside the door.

One of the makeshift classrooms was divided by a blackboard. One area had 44 pupils while the other had 77.

There are also not enough school desks, and some students need to write on their laps.

A school building is under construction in a nearby lot, but there are no details provided by the project board of the Department of Public Works and Highways as to the date of completion. Some teachers said the construction started in 2023.

The teachers have to make sacrifices that may affect the quality of their lessons.

One teacher said that school work is limited due to the lack of a laboratory and an ICT room that students can use.

Another teacher said physical activities are limited because there is no space for much movement.

The situation in Calubcon Elementary School, Salazar reports, is a reflection of other classrooms in different parts of the country.

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), it would take 55 years to fill the 165,000 schools needed. — BAP, GMA Integrated News