DepEd Negros Occ. public schools lack rooms, teachers

With four days left before School Year 2023-2024 opens, public schools in Negros Occidental still lack 1,800 classrooms as well as teachers.

Ian Arnaez, information officer of the Department of Education- Division of Negros Occidental said today that schools that lack rooms are located in poblacions of municipalities.

Ideally, the student-teacher ratio is one teacher to 45 students, he said.

Arnaiz said that right now the student to teacher ratio in the division is one teacher is to 50 students.

DepEd is addressing the problem by opening up additional teaching positions and partnering with the private sector to put up more classrooms, he pointed out.

Arnaiz also said released funds for the repair of several schools especially those affected by calamities.

“Schools also utilize libraries and seldom-used rooms even the office of the principal to provide more classrooms,” he said.

As of August 23, there are already 234,000 students that have enrolled in public schools under the Division of Negros Occidental.

He said that enrollment are still ongoing until Friday, August 25.

However, late enrollees will still be accepted within the first two months of the school year, he also said.

The Division covers 19 towns and one city.

Arnaez said that despite such shortages, all public schools in the province are ready for the opening of classes on August 29.* (APT/EYAdiong)