Students at Calasiao Comprehensive National High School returned to campus Monday, June 16, 2025, excited for the new school year, but faced familiar problems like crowded rooms and limited electricity.

Grade 10 friends Lala Yvonne Desola and Marieniel Domalanta were happy to be classmates again.

“Okay lang din po, masaya kasi naging kaklase ko siya ulit,” Desola said.

“Maganda po kasi opportunity to meet some students,” Domalanta added.

Grade 12 student Bea Fernandez is hopeful about her final year in senior high.

“Ini-expect ko po na ma-explore ko na ‘yung full potential ko as a student and student leader,” she said.

But while students showed high spirits, the school is still struggling with a shortage of classrooms. The administration has implemented blended learning to make up for the gap.

“‘Yung aming Grade 8, 24 sections pero 20 lang ang available [na classrooms]. 'Yung Grade 9, 24 sections, kumpleto pero nakiki-share ang Grade 8. Then ‘yung Grade 10, 26 sections pero mayroon lang kaming 18 classrooms. So mayroong 8 [sections] na nakiki-share sa Grade 9,” school principal Dr. Carina Untalasco said.

She added that full face-to-face classes are not yet possible due to the school's outdated electrical system.

“‘Yung aming kuryente, nag-o-overload. So hindi pa rin pwede mag-full. Although matagal na itong problema. Nag-request na kami sa DepEd, and actually approved na, implementation na lang,” Untalasco added.

The school has recorded 5,256 enrollees this school year, fewer slightly than last year’s 5,600, though enrollment is still ongoing.

While the number of junior high school teachers is enough, the school is awaiting the deployment of more senior high school instructors.