Departament of Education Region 7 planning to register 1.5 million students
Hittin' the Classroom: A Look at DepEd 7's Upcoming School Year Challenges
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) is bracing itself for a strenuous 2025-2026 school year, faced with a staggering shortage of classrooms that could disrupt educational equity:
- Sizeable Lack of Classroom Spaces: The classroom gap in Cebu Province alone amounts to an astounding 3,000 spaces, with the total deficit between Cebu and Bohol standing at an alarming 5,000[2][3].
- Origins of the Crisis: The deficit is a result of persistent infrastructure issue, exacerbated by the impact of natural calamities like Typhoon Odette, along with the continued use of old and decrepit school buildings[3].
- Effects on Learning: Consequently, class shifting has become a common practice, with some schools adopting double or triple shifts to accommodate all students[1][2].
Battling the Classroom Shortage in Central Visayas
To confront this predicament, DepEd 7 is implementing multiple tactics:
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Efforts are underway to collaborate with private firms, non-government organizations, and other allies to construct classrooms and fund infrastructure projects[2].
- Community Participation: Programs like Brigada Eskwela are rallying communities to help improve school facilities from June 9 to 15[3].
- Promoting Early Enrollment: Parents are being encouraged to register children ahead of the first day of classes to streamline the school opening process[4].
- Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues: Meetings with local government units, schools, and other key players aim to collaboratively find solutions to the infrastructure predicament[3].
Follow-Up: As the opening date of June 16 nears, DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez implores parents and guardians to expedite enrollment to ensure a smooth start for students and schools, avoiding any complications.
Bonus Info: The Police Regional Office 7 has deployed over 1,500 personnel for Balik Eskwela [1] to ensure a secure and orderly beginning of the school year. In addition, the Department of Health (DOH) recently proposed guidelines to prevent the transmission of Monkeypox (Mpox) in schools across the country [5]. These measures will focus on water access, sanitation facilities, mandatory isolation protocols, and contact tracing.
[1] - Inquirer
[2] - SunStar Cebu
[3] - Philippine Star
[4] - SunStar Cebu
[5] - DepEd
- To mitigate the nationwide shortage of classroom spaces, the Department of Health (DOH) has proposed guidelines to prevent the transmission of Monkeypox (Mpox) in schools across the country, focusing on water access, sanitation facilities, mandatory isolation protocols, and contact tracing.
- In light of the challenges faced by DepEd 7 in providing sufficient classrooms, the department is promoting online-education and self-development resources as an alternative solution for education-and-self-development.
- Acknowledging the necessity of a conducive learning environment, DepEd 7 is conducting multi-stakeholder dialogues with local government units, schools, and other key players, aiming to collectively find solutions to the infrastructure predicament in Cebu and Bohol.
