ZAMBOANGA CITY – A city councilor bared Wednesday, Aug. 24, that this city lacks classrooms and teachers amid the resumption of face-to-face classes this week.

Councilor Gerky Valesco, chairperson, city council Committee on Education, said Zamboanga City lacks 1,286 teachers and 1,452 classrooms.
The shortage is reportedly due to an increase in the enrollment of students in public schools here, some of whom have transferred from private institutions.
There are 263,625 public school students here, Department of Education records said.
Valesco also revealed defects in several school buildings and problems in water and power connections were discovered during an inspection by city councilors Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Valesco asked barangay, school officials, and parent-teacher organizations to make a situation report on the status of school buildings for submission to the Zamboanga City Office of the City Engineer.