Cebu lacks over 3,000 classrooms

CEBU, Philippines — As learners prepare to return to school on June 16, the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) is once again bracing for a massive classroom shortage across the region.

According to DepEd-7 officials, Cebu Province is bearing the brunt of the crisis, with over 3,000 classrooms still lacking.

Nationally, classroom backlogs have reached a staggering 165,000, according to recent reports.

During a press conference on Wednesday, June 4, DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez highlighted the worsening infrastructure problem, citing both natural disasters and funding constraints.

“We’re still recovering from calamities like Typhoon Odette. Many school buildings have yet to be repaired,” Jimenez said.

He also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor, noting that budget allocations originally intended for classroom construction had to be diverted for emergency response.

“So the problems just piled up,” he added.

As a temporary measure, DepEd-7 has launched efforts to profile each school’s specific repair needs, while also assessing teacher shortages based on ideal student-teacher ratios. The department has been coordinating with schools division offices, local government units, and other stakeholders to address the crisis.

However, Jimenez acknowledged the limitations posed by insufficient funding. In a May 27 interview, he admitted the agency cannot solve the problem on its own.

Due to the lack of classrooms and teachers, many schools will be forced to implement double-shift schedules, where one teacher handles two separate groups of students—one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

In Grade 1 classes, for example, the ideal student-teacher ratio is 25 to 1. But due to late registrations and a shortage of personnel, actual class sizes often exceed that.

“What we’re seeing is 35 to 40 learners per class. There are even areas where a single teacher handles 45 to 50 pupils,” Jimenez said.

He warned that such conditions lead to overcrowded classrooms, teacher burnout, and shortages in basic learning materials.

Jimenez called on the media to help raise public awareness and attract support from private organizations and non-government entities.

“Media can help us report the real conditions on the ground, and through this, we may attract more support from partners and donors,” he said.

Beyond infrastructure concerns, Jimenez also appealed to parents and guardians to enroll their children early. While late enrollees will still be accommodated on the first day of classes, he emphasized that last-minute registrations disrupt planning and stretch already limited resources.

He explained that enrollment data gathered by June 15 serves as the basis for future budget allocations, including requests for additional classrooms and teaching staff. Students who enroll after the deadline are not included in the official count, limiting their school’s ability to receive government support.

Jimenez said part of the problem stems from a persistent culture of delayed enrollment among Filipino parents. Some, he observed, intentionally postpone registration, believing it won’t affect their child’s education.

But in reality, he said, late enrollees often fall behind academically, miss foundational lessons, and require remedial or summer classes to catch up.

As part of preparations for the incoming academic year, DepEd announced that Brigada Eskwela, the nationwide school cleanup campaign, will run from June 9 to 15. FPL CEBU NEWS