The Department of Education (DepEd) has assured the parents of pupils and students that through different projects and programs, schools all over the nation are ready for the start of classes on Monday.
“Handang-handa na po kasi ang mga nilatag nating programa ay na-implement naman,” DepEd Undersecretary Jesus Mateo said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Friday.
Mateo noted that this year would be different as DepEd has taken steps to lower the teacher to pupil and teacher to student ratio, and the classroom to student ratio.
“Makikita nila na slowly, ‘yong ating teacher-pupil ratio bumababa na po. Sa katunayan nga, last year ‘yong ratio on the average nationwide, nasa one is to 33 pagdating sa elementary, pagdating sa secondary one is to 26,” he said.
According to the undersecretary, DepEd aims to lower the ratio by hiring an additional 75,000 teachers for this year. However, he also acknowledged certain restraints such as the lack of classrooms, which pushes the ratio higher as more students have to share fewer rooms.
“Aaminin ko po na pagdating dito sa matataong lugar, dito po medyo challenging kasi unang-una, wala naman tayong sufficient buildable space,” Mateo said.
“Hindi naman tayo pwedeng magdemolish ng mga existing buildings na one-story hangga’t wala pa tayong permiso sa COA (Commission on Audit) o sa engineering office. Kaya nga ang balak sana natin, magtayo tayo ng multi-story buildings,” he added.
He also added that classrooms are continuously built with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Higit 10,000 (classrooms) na ang tinapos natin noong December, tapos may 48,000 pa tayong tatapusin,” Mateo said.
Other programs
Mateo said other projects of the department also helped ensure that schools can accommodate new and old students.
“Noong huling linggo ng Enero, nagpatawag tayo ng early registration. Ang layunin nito ay para makita natin kung ilang mga bata ang papasok, at nang makakapaghanda ang bawat paaralan,” Mateo said.
“Sinundan natin ito ng school readiness assessment at pagsasanay ng mga guro natin. Kamakailan lang nagbukas tayo ng Brigada Eskwela at ngayon, Oplan Balik Eskwela,” he added.
Mateo also said that DepEd is now using a learning portal, an online-based site where digital books and learning materials are accessible to teachers, if the school has an internet connection.
“So lahat ng mga digital forms ng mga libro at learning materials, ilalagay po natin sa learning portal, para sa ganun, ‘yong mga paaralan na nasa ibang lugar, pwede na ring i-download ito,” Mateo said.
For questions and complaints regarding the reopening of classes, Mateo said that concerned citizens can contact DepEd by calling 09194560027 or 6387529 to 30, through sending an e-mail (action@deped.gov.ph), and messaging their official social media accounts. /muf