ILOILO City – Nearly one million learners are expected to return to school across Western Visayas on June 8, but many may have to attend classes under shifting schedules or in temporary learning spaces as schools struggle with inadequate classroom capacity.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 said schools across the region are preparing contingency measures to accommodate a projected 972,113 learners for School Year 2026-2027 amid continuing constraints in classroom space and school infrastructure.
According to DepEd-6, administrators and teachers may adopt alternative arrangements, including multi-shifting schedules, double-session classes, and the use of temporary learning spaces to ensure that students can still be accommodated when classes open.
Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of DepEd-6, acknowledged the challenges posed by overcrowded classrooms and limited facilities.
“Teachers will face class sizes far exceeding standard limits, resulting in heavily congested learning environments,” said Escullar.
To maximize available classroom space, schools, particularly large public high schools in Iloilo City, are expected to implement multi-shifting and double-schedule schemes that divide students into separate groups attending classes at different times of the day.
DepEd-6 said the arrangement allows schools to continue delivering instruction despite limitations in available learning spaces.
Teachers handling larger-than-normal class sizes may also need to adjust their teaching approaches to effectively accommodate additional learners.
The lack of physical learning spaces could likewise compel some schools to establish Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) using Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds.
Under the setup, gymnasiums, covered courts, and multipurpose halls may be converted into makeshift classrooms through the installation of partitions.
Apart from classroom concerns, DepEd-6 is also addressing staffing requirements ahead of the school opening. The regional office projected a need for 526 teaching positions in kindergarten and elementary schools, 221 in junior high school, 399 in senior high school, and 20 under the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
To help address infrastructure deficiencies, DepEd-6 continues to coordinate with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) for classroom construction and rehabilitation projects, particularly in schools affected by natural disasters.
The agency is also updating the National School Building Inventory (NSBI) to ensure that classroom and facility requirements can be readily accessed by the Central Office whenever funding becomes available.
Technical assistance, monitoring, and validation activities are likewise being undertaken to help school divisions identify and implement priority infrastructure projects.
DepEd-6 is encouraging partnerships with local government units and private organizations for classroom construction, repairs, and donations, while some infrastructure needs are being funded through local governments’ Special Education Fund (SEF).
Iloilo province is expected to register the largest enrollment in Western Visayas with 404,256 learners, followed by Antique with 136,556 and Capiz with 125,419.
The projected enrollment surge underscores the continuing challenge facing education authorities in ensuring adequate learning spaces and teaching personnel as schools prepare to welcome students back to classrooms across the region./PN
