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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd backs PBBM's call to solve classroom shortage through public-private partnerships

DepEd backs PBBM's call to solve classroom shortage through public-private partnerships

Published Jul 30, 2025 01:28 pm
DepEd joins President Marcos’ call to ease classroom shortage through bold public-private partnerships, with Secretary Angara pushing for over 100,000 new classrooms and stronger alignment between education and job market demands. (DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)
DepEd joins President Marcos’ call to ease classroom shortage through bold public-private partnerships, with Secretary Angara pushing for over 100,000 new classrooms and stronger alignment between education and job market demands. (DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, July 30, expressed strong support for the Marcos administration’s renewed call to address the country’s persistent classroom shortage, emphasizing that public-private partnerships (PPPs) will play a crucial role in accelerating school infrastructure development and ensuring quality education for all Filipino learners.
“Mabigat po ang problema ng kakulangan sa classrooms dahil apektado po ’yung learning quality o ’yung abilidad ng isang estudyante na matuto nang maigi (The shortage of classrooms is a serious problem because it affects the quality of learning and a student’s ability to learn effectively),” said DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara during the first post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussions focused on education and workers’ welfare.
“So tama ’yung sinabi ni Presidente na kailangan mag-think out of the box tayo (So the President was right in saying that we need to think outside the box),” he added.
The forum brought together officials from DepEd, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Bold, unconventional solution
Angara expressed strong support for the President’s renewed call to tackle the Philippines’ worsening classroom shortage, emphasizing the need for “bold and unconventional” PPPs to accelerate school infrastructure development.
DepEd, he explained, has already launched several PPP initiatives to fast-track classroom construction nationwide.
Classroom shortage is a long-standing problem
In his fourth SONA on July 28, President Marcos underscored the urgency of building more classrooms, pledging to add 40,000 new ones before the end of his term, in partnership with the private sector.
Angara revealed that over the past decade, the government has been building only around 6,000 classrooms annually.
However, with a well-structured PPP framework, he believes the country can construct more than 100,000 classrooms in the next five to ten years.
“That’s what the President was referring to—scaling up with the help of the private sector,” Angara said.
Aligning education with job market needs
Aside from addressing infrastructure gaps, Angara also emphasized the importance of reforming the education system to better align with labor market demands—especially in an era shaped by automation and artificial intelligence.
He highlighted DepEd’s strengthened collaboration with TESDA, CHED, and DOLE to enhance the technical-vocational track in Senior High School, now rebranded as TechPro.
Course offerings include skills such as graphic design and electrical work—designed to equip students with qualifications for quality, in-demand jobs, rather than just minimum wage employment.
“We are all working together to ensure our graduates get quality jobs,” Angara said, referring to the joint effort of the agencies present.
The post-SONA discussion is part of a series unpacking key national priorities raised by President Marcos, focusing on education, labor, and long-term economic competitiveness.
The series brings together government leaders and stakeholders to strategize and align efforts across sectors.

Related Tags

classroom shortage in the Philippines DepEd public-private partnerships education reform 2025 Sonny Angara DepEd Marcos SONA 2025 education
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