CEBU CITY – Central Visayas needs close to 11,000 classrooms.
Dr. Arturo Bayocot, Department of Education-Central Visayas (DepEd-7) chief, disclosed the shortage when he appeared in a regular session by the Cebu Provincial Board, which looked into the current condition of classrooms, schools, students, and teachers in the province.
Apart from facing a shortage of 10,845 classrooms, there are also 23,842 classrooms that need immediate repairs.
In Cebu alone, 5,466 classrooms are needed.
“We have 14,592 classrooms that are in good condition,” Bayocot said during last Monday’s session.
Bayocot added that DepEd-7 has endorsed a proposal to the Regional Development Council for the construction of 2,726 classrooms.
Due to budget limitations, proposals for the construction of classrooms have to be done gradually, Bayocot said.
The process of proposing the construction of new classrooms also hinges on the action of the DepEd Central Office, the official added.
For the construction of new classrooms, DepEd-7 can rely on the local government units, DepEd itself, through DPWH, or on a public-private partnership.
Bayocot said they are still awaiting the list for the classrooms that will be shouldered by the LGUs in the region.
Central Visayas has 3,643 schools, 2,844 of them are public schools.