Inside one of the newly built classrooms donated by SM Prime Holding, Inc. (SMPHI), through SM Foundation.
Over 21 million students have enrolled for the school year 2023-2024, with Region 4A logging the most enrollments at over three million. The school year was also met with challenges as the country reported a classroom deficit, reaching 159,000.
San Antonio Elementary School (SAES), situated in one of Batangas’ most populated municipalities, has been affected by the longstanding challenge of classroom shortage.
“Sa sobrang dami po ng aming estudyante, hindi po namin maprovide ang accommodation na nararapat para sa mga bata. Meron po kaming 1,550 learners last school year at 21 classrooms—kaya’t kulang po talaga kami ng 22 classrooms,” SAES Principal Joy Obreo said.
SAES utilized class shifting to be able to still fulfill their duty of honing the minds of Filipino youth. However, this, too, posed a problem.
“Ang shifting of classes po kasi namin ay nagra-run po from 6am to 6pm. ‘Yung six hours po kasi ng bata, kulang na kulang para magkaroon ng sapat na interaction ang students at teachers,” she started.
