More classrooms for next year

The Department of Education (DepEd) hopes to address long unresolved shortages in the public education system and the full implementation of the flagship Kindergarten-to-12 program with its P238.8 billion budget next year.

Francis Varela, education undersecretary for finance and administration, yesterday said the 15.2 percent increase in the DepEd’s annual budget “sustains the Aquino government’s continuing commitment to do more to improve the quality of learning in Philippine schools.”

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday signed the P1.8-trillion 2012 national budget. The DepEd again received the largest allocation, receiving some P31.5 billion more for next year than 2011’s P207.3 billion.

“The increased budget will allow DepEd to build more classrooms and hire additional teachers, among other critical needs that will make students learn more, whether they are in schools or availing of alternative learning modes,” said Varela.

Varela said the higher budget would enable the DepEd to fully pursue the implementation of its K to 12 program, the planned extension of the 10-year basic education cycle by two years to produce highly qualified high school graduates. Tarra Quismundo