Senate Demands Action on Worsening Classroom Shortage
Senator highlights decades-long deficit, urges DepEd to depoliticize building program
A severe and escalating shortage of classrooms across the nation is prompting urgent calls for action from the Senate, with lawmakers pushing the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the swift and apolitical completion of vital school building projects.
Urgent Appeal for Program Continuity
Senator Marcoleta is pressing the Department of Education to maintain the momentum of its school building initiatives. He stressed the critical need to avoid political interference in these projects to effectively address the persistent classroom deficit that hinders student learning.
“Years to Solve” Warning Issued
Chairman of the Committee on Basic Education, Senator Bam Aquino, has raised a stark alarm regarding the deepening classroom shortage. He expressed concern that the scale of the problem might necessitate the involvement of multiple presidential administrations to fully resolve.
“The worsening classroom shortage is a serious issue that needs immediate and sustained attention. We cannot afford to let politics get in the way of providing our students with adequate learning facilities.”
—Bam Aquino, Chairman, Committee on Basic Education
The issue was a central topic during an organizational meeting and public hearing held at the Senate in Pasay City. Senator Bam Aquino chaired the proceedings, which aimed to tackle the critical lack of both classrooms and textbooks plaguing the education sector.
DepEd Urged to Re-engage LGUs
DepEd has been strongly encouraged to reinstate its counterpart program with Local Government Units (LGUs). This collaboration is seen as a crucial mechanism for accelerating the construction of much-needed classrooms throughout the country.
The persistent lack of adequate learning spaces remains a significant challenge. For instance, in 2023, the Philippines faced a deficit of over 159,000 classrooms nationwide, impacting the learning environment for millions of students (Source: DepEd data cited by various news outlets).
Lawmakers are emphasizing that a focused, non-partisan approach is essential to overcome the backlog and ensure that every Filipino child has access to a conducive learning environment.
