In response to the shortage of classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) is studying the option of leasing closed private schools and other building as temporary learning facilities.
In 2022, the DepEd reported a shortage of 165,000 classrooms.
DepEd’s Office of the Undersecretary for Strategic Management (OUSM) recently worked with the Student First Coalition (SFC) for a Classroom Market Scoping Activity. The objective was to determine the capacity of the private sector, understand the market conditions on rent, and study partnership models to solve the current classroom shortage.
“Kailangan nating maging malikhain kung gusto nating bumilis ang ating solusyon,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
“Kung may mga paaralan at gusaling nakatengga at maaari namang magamit, buksan natin ito para sa mga kabataang nangangailangan ngayon.”
“Kung may mga paaralan at gusaling nakatengga at maaari namang magamit, buksan natin ito para sa mga kabataang nangangailangan ngayon,” Angara added.
The Standard Classroom Specifications of DepEd was presented together with the data needed for classroom augmentation and the details of the Leasing Pilot Program, followed by an open forum with representatives of the private sector.
In attendance were leading companies in real estate namely Colliers, Santos Knight Frank, Leechiu, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., Lobien Realty Group, and REBAP Inc.
Also joining the discussion were representatives of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corps of Engineers (AFP-COE).
This is part of DepEd’s initiative to find opportunities in the classroom-shortage crisis by pushing public-private sector cooperation and looking for innovations in building new education facilities.
One of the options being explored is leasing the Pita Property in Laguna where the Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. was formerly located. the 1,385-square-meter campus was last used in 2020 and is located two kilometers away from Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated National High School where there is a current shortage of 22 classrooms. The property las seven classrooms, a canteen, office and covered court with stage.
“Bahagi ito ng patuloy naming pagsisikap na baligtarin ang sitwasyon ng classroom shortage,” Undersecretary for Strategic Management Ronald Mendoza said.
“Sa halip na maghintay ng dalawa o tatlong taon para maitayo ang mga bagong gusali, tinitingnan natin ang mga umiiral na estruktura.”
“Sa halip na maghintay ng dalawa o tatlong taon para maitayo ang mga bagong gusali, tinitingnan natin ang mga umiiral na estruktura na maaaring maiangkop sa loob lamang ng anim na buwan para sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Mendoza added.
DepEd stressed the strategy to rent classrooms will complement to longterm infrastructure program of the department, including the flexible school building implementation and Public-Private Partnership.
