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Imagine thousands of classrooms sitting idle while students study in crowded hallways or under tents. That’s the irony the Department of Education (DepEd) wants to solve with its new idea—leasing unused private schools and properties. This bold move could be the most practical shortcut to tackling the country’s long-standing classroom shortage. The Classroom Shortage That Sparked Innovation In 2022, the Philippines faced a staggering classroom deficit of over 165,000 . Many schools were forced to implement shifting schedules , squeeze learners into cramped spaces, or hold classes in makeshift areas like covered courts and barangay halls. For decades, the government’s solution was simple: build more classrooms. But that approach often hit delays—slow procurement, limited funds, and the lengthy process of construction permits. Each year that passed meant more students sharing desks meant for two, and more teachers improvising their way through the chaos. That’s why DepEd, under the...

Have you ever tried learning in a room that didn’t quite feel like a classroom—maybe a tent, a hallway, or under a tree? That’s the reality for thousands of Filipino students today. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has now ordered government agencies to speed up classroom construction across the country, aiming to fix this long-standing problem before 2028. A Massive Challenge for Philippine Education Building classrooms might sound simple—but the numbers paint a staggering picture. According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippines is short about 165,000 classrooms . To close that gap, the country would need to build around 55,000 new classrooms each year until 2028. That’s not just about walls and roofs. It’s about giving millions of students a real place to learn—away from crowded rooms, makeshift spaces, and shared facilities. For context: Some public schools hold up to three class shifts per day to make space for everyone. A few even hold classes in covere...