Lack of classrooms: Teachers to meet students on Monday

CEBU, Philippines - The perennial problems of lack of teachers and classrooms will again welcome the students in the opening of classes on Monday.

Department of Education Region VII information officer Clara Rebecca Falconi said a total of 8,263 classrooms are needed for the 19 divisions in Central Visayas. Falconi said Cebu province lacks 2,153 classrooms.

She said 4,058 classrooms are needed for the elementary and secondary levels while another 4,205 for the kindergarten. She however said that the shortage is expected to reduce within the year because there are 958 classrooms due for construction.  

The region also needs a total of 9,641 teachers, 832 for elementary; 5,557 for secondary and 4,205 for kindergarten. She said Cebu needs 2,978 teachers.

DepEd-7 officer-in-charge Carmelita Dulangon said it is inevitable that some classes will be held in barangay halls and chapels.

She said they are also asking assistance from the different local school boards to help address the problems.

She thanked the local government units and the private sectors for their continued support to DepEd.

Meanwhile, Dulangon warned the teachers not to refuse admission of children for failure to pay some authorized school fees.

Dulangon said that although there are some authorized school fees approved by DepEd, these are not mandatory.

“Dili gyud na pwede nga himoong katarungan para dili maka-eskwela ang usa ka bata. Kung muhatag ang ginikanan, maayo. Pero ug dili, dili nato pugson. Tabangan gyud nato ang atong kabataan nga makaeskwela,” said Dulangon. — (FREEMAN)