Except for the usual overcrowding, the opening of classes yesterday went smoothly, according to authorities. They probably meant that children showed up in school and found their classrooms in an orderly manner while teachers met their pupils in peace, with no reports of anyone being snatched by bandits in conflict areas.
Yesterday also marked the start of universal kindergarten and a 12-year basic education program in public schools. The addition of free and compulsory kindergarten aggravated the classroom shortage, with education officials saying it would take a few more months to complete 19,000 classrooms.
The first day of classes went smoothly, but education cannot be smooth or effective in a crowded environment. The quality of education naturally suffers when a teacher handles a class so large he or she cannot even remember the names and faces of all the pupils.
The lack of classrooms has been a problem for years, as state resources for education fail to keep up with the booming population. Many public schools have been forced to hold classes in three shifts, reducing the number of class hours for children and putting a heavy burden on teachers without a commensurate increase in their pay. The private sector has pitched in, donating funds or undertaking the construction of classrooms and school buildings, but the facilities are never enough.
The overcrowding is in addition to the many other problems that plague public schools, including an acute lack of teachers, textbooks and desks. These shortages have been around for decades, during which the quality of Philippine education also deteriorated. Surely the daang matuwid team can come up with innovative solutions to at least some of the chronic problems. Beyond a smooth, orderly school opening, what students need is quality education in a decent environment.