DepEd aims to build 15,000 classrooms until 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The government targets to build 15,000 classrooms under the public-private partnership (PPP) being pushed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, a ranking official of the Department of Education yesterday said.

DepEd OIC-Undersecretary for operations Malcolm Garma said in an interview over dzBB that the government has its short-, medium- and long-term solutions to address the shortage in classrooms, pegged at 165,000 in the country.

“The PPP is not a donation. It will just be a frontloading, the private sector will first finance the construction (of classrooms),” Garma said.

Garma acknowledged that double shifting and even triple shifting are being practiced in some schools due to the shortage in classrooms.

“So, out of our projected 165,000 shortage (of classrooms), we hope to cover under PPP around 15,000 at least for this year or for next year. That will be a big accomplishment,” Garma said.

Angara has attributed the shortage in classrooms to the growing population, noting that the deficit was only 55,000 12 years ago.

“Let us remember that the 15,000 (classrooms) under the PPP are not free, we will still need to provide a budget for this. We just (tap the PPP) to fast-track the construction. The Department of Budget and Management is trying to spread the allocation of funding so that the DepEd can fund other programs,” Garma said.

He added that, under this arrangement, classrooms would be built promptly, with payments spread over 10 years.

P25 billion fund for student allowance

Garma, reacting to the proposed House Bill 27 filed by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, said the government will need at least P25 billion annually to fund the P1,000 monthly allowance for at least 25 million students from kindergarten to senior high school in the country.

“The DepEd welcomes anything which can benefit our students from Kinder to Grade 12. But of course, it will involve big funding,” Garma said.

Under Leviste’s proposal, the P1,000 monthly allowance will cover each student’s expense on food, transportation and school supplies.

Leviste said a student must attend his or her class 80 percent of the time to avail of the assistance.

“We computed it. If we have 25 million students in basic education, that means (if you will provide P1,000), that would be around P25 billion. So we welcome the value-added for our learners. But of course we have to balance the budget of DepEd,” Garma said as he acknowledged that the inability of students to go to school is among the hindrances to their education.

“We hope it will become a motivation if the allowance pushes through. It will be a motivation for parents to ensure their children will be able to attend classes,” he added.

Garma also said that the proposed monthly allowance could finance the construction of 15,000 classrooms as based on the estimate, the construction will entail at least P24 billion.

Meanwhile, Garma attributed the delay in the delivery of textbooks for this school year, which started on June 16, to procurement issues.

“We will have delivery by August. These (textbooks) were procured two years, one year ago and the delivery will be done this year,” Garma said.

“One problem (in the delay of delivery of textbooks) is the procurement as we procure in bulk. This is being done usually in the central office and there are times when failure of bidding is experienced. That’s the big problem when it comes to textbooks. We cannot just procure without undergoing the bidding process,” he noted.

He assured parents that, despite the delay in the delivery of textbooks, teachers are using other forms of learning materials.

“Teachers have what we call lesson exemplar. We have modules and work sheets, so the teachers are ready to respond. Teaching is not purely based on books. We have various ways to teach the lessons. But of course, we recognize how important books are in our schools,” Garma said.

He added that the DepEd continues its aspiration to provide one book for every student.