41,728 classrooms readied for K to 12

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 41,728 classrooms will be repaired or constructed across the country this year as part of the government’s preparation for the full implementation of the K to 12 program, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

Funding for the construction of the classrooms was allocated in the 2015 DepEd budget.

Department of Budget and Management has allotted P53.9 billion for basic education facilities to cover the construction of 31,728 classrooms and the repair of another 9,500.

The new classrooms that will be built will be on top of the 33,608 that were funded for construction or repair last year.

DepEd has constructed more than 66,800 classrooms from July 2010 to December 2013.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro earlier said that over 30,000 new classrooms are needed once the K to 12 program, which will add two years of senior high school, is fully implemented by 2017.

The additional classrooms will be used by the projected 650,000 students per level who will enroll in Grades 11 and 12 on 2016 and 2017, respectively.

In a radio interview last week, Luistro said all municipalities in the country will have senior high schools.

In addition to the public high schools that will offer the senior high school program, Luistro said that there are currently 1,116 applications from private schools to offer Grades 11 and 12.

Another 274 private schools already have permits to offer the senior high school program. -Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star)