27.6 million students return to school

CEBU, Philippines — With the opening of School Year 2025-2026 classes today, the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government agencies nationwide are mobilizing resources to ensure a smooth start for over 27 million students.

“All systems go po tayo sa pagbubukas ng klase bukas,” said Chief Media Relations Officer Dennis Legaspi from the Office of Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Sunday.

Legaspi told The Freeman that DepEd projects a total of 27.6 million learners across the country, broken down as follows: Elementary: 15.42 million; Junior High School: 8.01 million; and Senior High School: 4.17 million.

In Central Visayas—covering Cebu and Siquijor—DepEd-7 regional director Salutiano Jimenez said that an estimated 1.6 million students are expected to enroll at all levels this school year.

To accommodate this number, Legaspi said that 875,514 teachers will be deployed to 48,056 public schools nationwide.

Despite this, the current teacher shortage stands at 56,050, although it may be reduced to 32,916 if 20,000 new teaching positions are filled. This is a notable improvement from the 24,876 shortage in 2023 and the 90,006 in 2024.

The country is also facing a classroom shortage of 165,000. In response, DepEd has laid out a three-pronged strategy: constructing 105,000 new classrooms through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); accelerating classroom construction via early procurement, as ordered by Secretary Angara; and closely coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for climate-resilient infrastructure.

DepEd said it remains committed to addressing long-standing gaps in the education sector while ensuring access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments.

To make education more accessible, DepEd has also simplified enrollment documentary requirements. This is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to streamline the enrollment process and reduce the financial burden on families.

Under the revised policy, a child’s birth certificate only needs to be submitted once during the K to 12 education cycle.

“We’ve heard from parents that enrollment often encounters problems due to missing, delayed, or reprocessed documents,” said Angara. “With this change, families save time and money. More importantly, no child will be left behind on the first day of class just because of paperwork.”

Parents or guardians must submit either an original or certified true copy of a PSA/NSO-issued birth certificate. If unavailable during enrollment, secondary documents may be submitted until October 31.

These include National ID or other primary government-issued IDs, Certificate of Live Birth, Marriage Certificate, PhilHealth ID, PWD ID, Barangay Certification, Affidavit of Undertaking, Certificate of Foundling, and Baptismal Certificate.

For special cases—such as Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and individuals in rehabilitation enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS)—a certification or proof of identity from their ALS teacher will be accepted.

Late enrollees will still be accepted if they attend at least 80 percent of total school days and meet quarterly requirements. School heads have the discretion to accept these students and provide necessary interventions to help them catch up. Schools are also reminded to directly transfer student records between the originating and receiving institutions.

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, local authorities are preparing for the expected congestion as thousands of students return to school.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) Assistant Head Atty. Kent Jongoy said that half of the agency’s 564 traffic enforcers are being deployed to public schools, especially those near major intersections or with high vehicular and foot traffic.

“Of the 107 public schools in the city, CCTO currently has at least 50 percent of its personnel deployed, focusing on those located near major intersections,” Jongoy said.

Priority areas include Abellana National School, City Central School, Cebu Technological University, Vicente Rama Elementary and National High School, and schools in Talamban, Bo. Luz, Banilad, Labangon, Punta Princesa, and Mambaling.

Jongoy added that barangays have also pledged to assist in traffic operations, particularly in school zones.

In addition to road safety, the national government is also taking action to address water supply issues in schools.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed all local water authorities to ensure adequate and stable water supply in public and private schools nationwide, following reports of inadequate facilities.

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Jose Moises Salonga said during a Malacañang press briefing that a memorandum circular was issued to the 532 water districts under LWUA’s oversight. These districts—serving areas outside Metro Manila—are expected to submit their initial reports tomorrow, June 17.

Water district leaders were also told to report all water-related concerns in their jurisdictions. Salonga emphasized that the directive applies to both public and private schools.

“This memorandum covers both private and public schools. We are now processing all incoming reports,” he said.

The President issued the order after visiting two schools in Bulacan during the Brigada Eskwela kickoff, where he discovered the lack of functioning water systems in restrooms.

President Marcos stressed the health risks posed by poor access to clean water for students, calling it a basic necessity.

“Over the past week, matindi pa sa tawag sa 8888 ang nakuha namin kasi mismong Presidente ang nag-advocate sa consumers. So we had no choice but to act forthwith,” Salonga said, referring to the Citizens’ Complaint Hotline. (CEBU NEWS)