Cebu lacks hundreds of teachers, rooms

Schools in Cebu province lack hundreds of teachers and classrooms for the senior high school under the K to 12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

But despite this deficiency, Dr. Arden Monisit, DepEd Cebu provincial schools division superintendent, said preliminary preparations for the program are 100 percent  done.

“As of now, we can say that we still lack classrooms, equipment, and teachers but in terms of preparation, we have already submitted to the central office our requirements,” he told reporters at the Capitol yesterday.

Monisit attended the first provincial water summit as a representative of the education sector.

The official said that the province needs 2,300 more teachers and 1,800 more classrooms for senior high school.

Under the new curriculum, students get an additional two years of basic education as senior high school on top of the existing ten years – six years of primary education and four years of secondary education.

Two years in senior high school are supposed to  equip students with skills that will  help them land a job even without pursuing tertiary education.

“We, at DepEd, are hoping that  all education stakeholders will support K to 12. This is one way of raising educational standards of our country. Compared to other Asian countries, we are the only one having 10 years of basic education,” said Monisit.

Monisit said the DepEd central office wants the backlog of  classrooms to be constructed before June 2016 with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as implementing agency.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III earlier pledged to donate 200 classrooms, reducing the province’s needs to 1,600.

“Next year, another 200 classrooms will be given by the provincial government. We are hoping that by June of 2016, everything will be set for senior high school,” said Monisit.

Monisit said  DepEd will be hiring 1,300 additional public school teachers for the coming school year.

The Brigada Eskwela program will start on May 18.

The DepEd Maintenance Program is a weeklong preparation for the opening of classes on June 1.

“We will do minor repairs, clean up schools, distribute books and other instructional materials,” said Monisit.

If classrooms are lacking,  schools are advised to use non-instructional rooms like the principal’s office and the library.

Construction and repair are still ongoing for classrooms  damaged by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013.

“We’ve had several turnovers. We are expecting that before the opening of classes, the rest of the classrooms will be turned over so that we will be ready for the opening,” said Monisit.

Monisit reminded the public that there are no enrollment fees in public schools.

“If there are voluntary contributions, they will not be collected during enrollment so that students will not have a reason not to enroll,” he said.

All school age children should go to school under the “Education for All” program.

Monisit said that enrollment in public schools usually last a week before the opening of classes but late enrollees will still be accommodated.