No more classroom shortage in Phl – Noy

MANILA, Philippines - There is no more classroom shortage in the country.

President Aquino announced this yesterday in his speech during the ceremonial turnover of classrooms at Carmona National High School in Cavite, saying the classroom backlog of the previous administration has been addressed.

He lauded Education Secretary Armin Luistro for exceeding the government target with the construction of 66,813 classrooms. He said the target was only 66,800 classrooms worth around P800,000 each.

The classrooms, which range from one-story structures to multi-floor buildings, were constructed using national and local government funds and donations from the private sector.

More than 35,000 classrooms were funded by the national budget; 13,189 classrooms built using local government funds; 14,886 from local donations; 1,215 from foreign donations, and 2,242 under the Public Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project I.

“This is a collaborative work of private organizations and public institutions, showing commitment to quality education for Filipino learners,” said Luistro.

DepEd said the repair of classrooms damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda and the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the country last year has also started.

A total of 4,599 classrooms in the Visayas region and Palawan were totally destroyed while 13, 021 were partially damaged by Yolanda.

DepEd said private firms will fund the reconstruction and repair of at least 3,467 classrooms, or about 20 percent of the total classrooms needed in the calamity-hit areas.

Meanwhile, Luistro said the DepEd would construct more classrooms this year in preparation for the full implementation of senior high school (grades 11 and 12) in 2016.

“The Department of Education will continue to provide basic inputs to address incremental enrollment, regular wear and tear, and senior high school requirements,” Luistro said.

The President said the almost 62 million backlog in textbooks has also been solved, and the books acquired were 40 percent cheaper compared than those the previous administration acquired.

He said the 2.5 million backlog in chairs was also addressed with the recycling of seized logs that were converted into chairs.

Aquino expressed belief that education is the central strategy in reducing poverty and building national competitiveness.  – With Helen Flores, Arnell Ozaeta