EDITORIAL - Wanted: More classrooms

Face-to-face classes could not resume 100 percent on Nov. 2. This was partly because over 200 schools were damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng while others were being used as evacuation centers.

Also, in certain schools in Metro Manila and other densely populated areas, there simply weren’t enough rooms to accommodate the student population, even with classes held in two shifts. Because of this, dozens of public schools were allowed to join private schools in continuing with partial face-to-face classes.

The situation highlights the urgency of providing more classrooms or school buildings. Economic difficulties arising from the COVID pandemic swelled enrollment in state-run schools, as parents who could no longer afford tuition transferred their children from private to public schools.

The Department of Education kept track of the substantial increase in public school enrollment, but there was no corresponding effort to expand facilities for learning. Some DepEd officials have attributed this failure to COVID mobility restrictions and urgent funding requirements for pandemic response.

The result, according to teachers’ groups, is overcrowding in many schools. As full face-to-face classes began this week, some schools reported class sizes of up to 90. This is not only unwieldy for efficient education but also raises the risk of COVID infection, especially with many young students still unvaccinated.

At least it seems that students and educators alike are opting to keep their masks on even when it is no longer mandatory. But the need to maintain physical distancing, which is a key reason for private schools to continue opting for partial in-person classes, is impossible in a class size of 70 to 90. Even a class size of 50, which is typical in many public schools, poses challenges for social distancing and efficient education.

The public school system is crying out for more classrooms and school buildings. Congress is currently deliberating on the national budget for 2023. Education stakeholders and certain budget experts are pushing for a realignment of so-called confidential funds – P500 million allotted to the Office of the Vice President, or at least the P150 million to the DepEd – for the construction of urgently needed education facilities.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is concurrent education secretary, has said the DepEd confidential funds will be used to fight sexual abuse, criminal recruitment of youths as well as drug abuse, among others. Critics have said this campaign is best left to law enforcement and related agencies. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has also noted that confidential funds are “prone to abuse and discretion.”

Wherever the funds may be sourced, the current situation in schools shows the urgency of providing more facilities for in-person learning.