The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering renting closed private schools and other unused facilities to help address the country’s classroom shortage, which reached over 165,000 classrooms in 2022.
In partnership with the Student First Coalition and other government agencies, the DepEd recently conducted a Classroom Market Scoping Activity to identify available facilities and explore possible collaborations with the private sector.
“Kung may mga paaralan o gusali na nakatambak lang at maaaring magamit, buksan natin ito para sa kapakinabangan ng mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan ng silid-aralan ngayon,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara, encouraging the use of idle spaces for the benefit of students.
One of the first properties being considered is the 1,385-square-meter Pita Property in Laguna, formerly the Rainbow Institute of Learning, which could immediately provide classrooms and facilities near the Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated National High School.
According to DepEd, this initiative will complement existing infrastructure programs and serve as a faster and more practical solution to the classroom shortage affecting public schools across the country.