The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, March 19, said it is accelerating the rollout of prefabricated classrooms as a fast and practical solution to ease congestion and address the country’s persistent classroom shortage.

At Mariveles National High School–Alasasin Annex in Bataan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara led the inspection of newly installed modular classrooms, which were completed in less than two weeks, underscoring the agency’s shift toward rapid construction strategies to immediately deliver learning spaces where they are most needed.

In a statement, DepEd said the modular units—made possible through a donation from First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and the Next Gen Foundation—demonstrate how prefabricated structures can significantly shorten construction timelines compared with conventional school buildings.

Angara explained that the prefabricated classrooms are designed to provide immediate relief to overcrowded schools while the government continues to implement long-term infrastructure projects.

“Ang mahalaga, mas mabilis nating nabibigyan ng maayos na silid-aralan ang ating mga mag-aaral (What’s important is that we can provide proper classrooms to our students more quickly),” Angara said.

“Habang tinutugunan natin ang long-term classroom needs, may agarang solusyon para hindi na kailangang magsiksikan ang mga bata (While we are addressing long-term classroom needs, there is an immediate solution so that children no longer have to be cramped together),” he added.

DepEd said the adoption of modular classrooms comes as many public schools across the Philippines continue to grapple with high enrollment and limited infrastructure.

At the Alasasin Annex, the school currently serves 1,031 learners and is projected to face a shortage of at least five classrooms due to the expected influx of Grade 12 students next school year.

By installing prefabricated units, DepEd aims to immediately expand available learning spaces, reduce class sizes, and improve overall learning conditions.

Teachers and students are expected to benefit from more organized class schedules and less congested classrooms—key factors that contribute to better learning outcomes.

DepEd highlighted the speed and efficiency of prefab construction as a major advantage over traditional building methods.

The site for the modular classrooms was identified and inspected on March 5, followed by joint validation with DepEd Central Office engineers the next day. Site clearing began on March 9, and classroom furniture was delivered by March 11—even before construction was completed.

In less than two weeks, the classrooms were ready for use, DepEd said.

This compressed timeline demonstrates how prefabricated classrooms can be rapidly deployed to areas facing urgent classroom shortages.

While modular classrooms provide a quick fix, DepEd emphasized that these are part of a broader strategy to address infrastructure gaps in the education sector.

The Alasasin Annex is included in DepEd’s 2026–2030 school building master plan, which proposes the construction of a four-storey building with 12 classrooms to meet long-term demand.

By combining fast-build solutions with sustained infrastructure investments, DepEd aims to close the classroom gap while ensuring that future school facilities are more resilient and better equipped.

Alongside the rollout of prefab classrooms, DepEd also continues to support learner welfare through complementary programs such as the YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan, which delivers essential health services in schools.

DepEd stressed that improving both physical learning spaces and student well-being is critical to strengthening education outcomes nationwide.