Central Luzon schools lack 10,400 teachers, 7,200 classrooms

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Classes in public elementary and high schools in Central Luzon will open next week with a shortage of 10,466 teachers and 7,232 classrooms.

Data obtained by The STAR from the planning division of the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office show that a total of 1,352,542 pupils are expected to troop to public elementary schools throughout Central Luzon this school year.

The regional office also projects a total of 624,973 students in public high schools in Central Luzon’s six provinces.

The projections were based on two percent annual increase in the elementary school population in the last five years, and one percent increase in the high school population in the region.

Jesus Zerrudo, assistant chief of the elementary education division of the DepEd regional office, meanwhile, warned principals of public schools against imposing unauthorized fees and school uniforms on students.

There have been reports of public school officials “suggesting” elaborately designed uniforms especially for girls, apparently to compel parents to buy from one supplier, in lieu of inexpensive white blouses and blue skirts readily available in local markets.

Zerrudo urged parents to report violations of DepEd guidelines to education division superintendents.

“The superintendents are authorized to act directly on such complaints or even forward the complaints directly to the DepEd central office,” he said.

DepEd data also show a shortage of 4,918 classrooms in the elementary level in Central Luzon, and 2,314 in the high school level.

DepEd documents also indicate a lack of 2,871 elementary school teachers, and 7,595 high school teachers.