THE Department of Education yesterday said no untoward incident has been reported since the opening of classes last month but added that “perennial problems” facing the country’s basic education sector still exist.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Tan Poa, in a press briefing at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, said the lack of classrooms, school furniture and teachers with overloaded tasks continue to hound the deparment.
He said the DepEd is “bent on resolving” these issues, adding it is asking the Department of Budget and Management for additional funds for the construction of more classrooms and the purchase and deliveries of more school furniture like tables and chairs.
He said the schools are also doing shifting of classes to accommodate the influx of students this school year.
Poa said more than 29 million students from kindergarten to senior high school have enrolled this year, adding they expect the number to increase since schools are still allowed to accept late enrollees.
“That will not solve everything. That’s why next year, in our budget, we are asking for more budget in terms of new construction of classrooms, in terms of repair of classrooms, and in terms of school furniture,” he added.
Last month, DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III told the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture that the department lacks around 91,000 classrooms.
DepEd said there are areas in Metro Manila and Calabarzon where student-classroom ratio sometimes stand at 68 to 1.
The DepEd has proposed a P86.5 billion budget for 2023 for the construction of classrooms. The amount can be used to build 34,551 schools nationwide.
Poa said the department is also eyeing the hiring of additional teachers next year and temporarily transferring teachers from less congested schools to schools with large student populations.
