CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City is lacking 468 classrooms.
Lapu-Lapu City schools division superintendent Dr. Eduardo Ompad said in a recent press conference there are schools that need more classrooms.
He added that they have received classroom donations from private sectors and companies but despite this, they are not able to reach the desired number for classrooms.
Among the schools that need classrooms are Babag National High School, Marigondon National High School, Bankal Elementary School and Mactan Elementary School.
With an ideal classroom-student ratio of 1:45, an additional of three students can be fitted in one room.
"Karon, 1 is to 48 na," Ompad said. This made them adopt the double shift in classes.
Morning classes would start at 6:30 a.m. to 12 noon while afternoon classes would start at lunch until 6 p.m. Ompad elaborated that this double session is applied in kindergarten until Grade 2.
Meanwhile, the teaching force has not decreased, at least in Lapu-Lapu. Instead, the city absorbed 50 newly-hired teachers this year.
The enrollment period for students is still ongoing until Friday, June 6. A period of three weeks was given to parents in accompanying their children, most especially the kindergarten pupils. After the said period, parents will not be allowed to enter the school. (FREEMAN)