CV figures roughly same last year: 1.6 million learners back to school

CEBU, Philippines — A new school year opens today.

With appro-ximately 1.6 million learners projected in Region 7, according to the Department of Education (DepEd)-7, Cebu City continues to grapple with a shortage of 1,200 classrooms.

DepEd-7 Regional Director Arturo Bayocot, however, said that despite this projection, the actual enrollment count would only be reflected starting today.

“Ugma pa magsugod ang klase, so they have not yet reported the data kay ang quick count takes off tomorrow," Bayocot said yesterday, June 7, 2026.

He explained that the nearly 700,000 learners recorded during the early enrollment period covered only transition grades, namely Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 7, and Grade 11.

Bayocot noted that while many learners had already enrolled during Brigada Eskwela, consolidated enrollment figures from schools and division offices would only become available after classes officially open.

For now, DepEd-7 is maintaining its projection of 1.6 million learners, which is roughly equivalent to the total enrollment recorded during the previous school year.

“Our projection is 1.6 million. We are targeting the enrollment of last year. That's our target and also our projection so far," Bayocot said.

The regional director also observed a declining trend in kindergarten enrollment, which he attributed partly to lower birth rates and economic concerns among families.

“Ang trending sa kindergarten enrollment nagkagamay. The reason maybe, wala na'y daghang anak. They see the inflation, they see the problem about the economy, and parents probably now are becoming wiser," he said.

Bayocot added that the implementation of age requirements for school entry may also be affecting enrollment figures. Under current policy, children must be at least five years old for kindergarten and six years old for Grade 1.

Despite the opening of classes, schools will continue accommodating late enrollees. Bayocot likewise urged parents to ensure that their children attend classes on the first day of school.

Cebu City opens classes despite classroom shortage

Cebu City, on the other hand, is ready to open classes for the new school year today, even as public schools continue to face a shortage of more than 1,200 classrooms needed to ease congestion and provide safer, more comfortable learning conditions.

The city is preparing to accommodate around 170,000 students this school year, a figure that continues to grow annually.

Local School Board (LSB) head Joy Young, in an interview with THE FREEMAN, assured: “More or less, we are ready,” citing preparations in supplies, facilities, and scheduling adjustments.

The LSB has already distributed chairs, desks, and school supplies, though shortages remain.

Young admitted that some school heads were lagging behind in collecting supplies, which were intended to be distributed during enrollment.

“Naay ubang principal, hinay kaayo, wapa pangkwaa (school supplies). Supposed to be ang order nako ana, is inig enroll sa bata, naa na ng, mada na na nila ang school bag with supply..Ang uban nahatag na, ang uban, wala,” Young disclosed.

There will be no free school uniforms from the city government, while the distribution of physical education (PE) uniforms will have to wait until next year, as the last batch was released only at the end of last year.

Cebu City is adopting DepEd’s trimester system for the first time, with classes running from June to September, September to December, and December to April.

The reform is intended to optimize instructional time, reduce learning gaps, and provide structured breaks for teachers and students. DepEd officials said the trimester calendar will help minimize disruptions from calamities, holidays, and non-teaching tasks, which previously cost schools dozens of instructional days each year.

Young said it took them six months to meet with principals from all 128 public schools to assess their needs.

The bidding process for new classrooms and furniture is ongoing, with emphasis on durability and quality.

“One year pa mi (in office),” Young added, noting that any bidding depends on the city’s available budget.

Young said the city is set to construct six- to ten-story school buildings, complete with elevators, in high-demand areas such as Lahug, Talamban, and Tejero.

The project, estimated at P2.5 billion, will cover 42 schools and deliver about 1,200 new classrooms.

Funding will come from city resources, with supplemental requests to senators and the DepEd, which maintains an annual budget for school buildings.

Buot-Taup Elementary School remains the only campus in the city with condemned buildings, though other structures are still safe for use, while a new lot has been identified behind the school for its eventual relocation.

Young stressed that makeshift tents will not be necessary, contrary to what Mayor Nestor Archival said earlier, as classroom shortages can be managed through shifting schedules and the use of alternative spaces such as libraries and faculty rooms.

He also noted that 12 schools in the city no longer have available land for new buildings, prompting the shift to vertical expansion.

“Now, mostly, schools here are of four-story buildings minimum… but we are looking at six to ten stories,” he said.

The classroom expansion drive follows the September 2025 magnitude 6.9 earthquake and Typhoon Tino in November, which damaged thousands of classrooms across Cebu.

DepEd-7 earlier estimated rehabilitation costs at over P5 billion, with only partial funding released. Many schools have since relied on multi-story buildings to maximize limited space, but the surge in enrollment has made congestion a pressing issue.

Motorcycles for Balik-Eskwela

In a separate development, the Cebu City Government, according to City Councilor Paul Labra, turned over four new Honda XR150 motorcycles to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to strengthen traffic enforcement over the weekend.

These motorcycles, provided through Archival’s initiative and the CCPO Advisory Group, will be deployed for Balik-Eskwela operations beginning today to help ensure student and commuter safety.

The CCPO Traffic Enforcement Unit expects the additional mobility assets to improve responses to traffic concerns and enhance police visibility around schools and busy roads.

The acquisition supports the city’s vision of a “Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Cebu City,” where investments in public safety and mobility contribute to a safer community.

Overall enrollment projection

DepEd is expecting enrollment to increase for School Year 2026–2027, with projections ranging from 26 million to 28 million learners in both public and private schools nationwide.

The projected figure is higher than the total enrollment recorded in School Year 2025–2026, which reached 25,935,863 learners. If achieved, the estimate would reflect a continued rise in student participation across the country’s basic education system.

Education officials attributed the expected increase to ongoing enrollment efforts, population growth, and the continued return of learners to formal schooling following disruptions experienced in previous years.

As classes begin for the new school year, DepEd said it remains focused on providing accessible and quality education while addressing challenges related to classroom capacity, learning resources, and the overall welfare of learners and teachers. — /IHM (FREEMAN)