DepEd: BARMM logs high classroom congestion in SY 2022-2023
The Senate committee on basic education on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, held a hearing on the opening of classes, national learning camp, and education status in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, among others. | PHOTO: Screenshot from Senate of the Philippines/Youtube
MANILA, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had high classroom congestion in elementary and secondary schools in School Year 2022-2023, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on basic education, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Francis Bringas said there are more than 45 students in each classroom in the BARMM, which is considered congested.
“This validated ratio is [SY] 2022-2023 but we expect the same trend in [SY] 2023-2024 and this year,” he added.
Bringas reported that based on the National School Building Inventory, there is “high congestion” in senior high school classrooms in the BARMM, followed by the National Capital Region, Region 7, and Region 4-A.
“For the junior high school, we have high congestion in BARMM, NCR, and then region 4-A. This is above the ideal ratio that we have, this is above 45,” he added.
READ: DepEd: P397B needed to build schools and close classroom gap
Bringas said around 150,000 classrooms are required to achieve the ideal student-to-classroom ratio.
“The current estimate per classroom is around P3.5 to P5 million,” he added.
The BARMM also saw an increase in student enrollment.
Minster Mohagher Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education reported that a total of 1,038,662 students enrolled for the SY 2022-2023.
Enrollment increased by 17 percent in SY 2023-2024 with 1,258,253 students enrolled in public schools, government-run madaris or Islamic schools, and community learning centers offering basic education, secondary education, and higher education.
READ: 1.2 million kids in school a milestone in Bangsamoro – BARMM execs
Meanwhile, Maguindanao clashes displaced 3,000 people in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte, causing the delay of the opening of classes of at least seven elementary and secondary schools that were originally scheduled on July 29.
