5 days ago
Classes open for SY 2025–2026 as DepEd braces for 27 million enrollees
Pupils line up as they are excited to return to school for the School Year 2025-2026 at Aurora Quezon Elementary School in San Andres, Manila, on Monday, June 16, 2025. DANNY PATA
Schools across the country reopened on Monday, June 16, marking the official start of School Year 2025–2026 with the Department of Education (DepEd) expecting around 27 million enrollees from preschool to senior high school.
"All systems go po ang lahat sa pagbubukas ng ating klase," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a Viber message.
(All systems are go for the opening of classes.)
As millions of students trooped back to classrooms, the country's education system continues to grapple with long-standing challenges—including learning gaps, infrastructure backlogs, and overcrowded facilities.
One of the most urgent problems remains the massive shortage of classrooms, which currently stands at 165,000 nationwide. Education officials earlier admitted that, at the current rate of construction, it could take up to 55 years to completely eliminate the backlog.
To help decongest packed schools, DepEd is exploring limited hybrid learning arrangements, particularly for senior high school students in overcrowded or high-density locations. The department also continues to modernize classrooms through the delivery of smart TVs, laptops, and updated textbooks, in line with the government's push for digital education.
Meanwhile, DepEd clarified its policy on cellphones in the classroom ahead of the school opening. While the general rule discourages phone use during class hours, exceptions are made when gadgets are used under teacher supervision for learning-enhancing activities.
DepEd officials said that despite the challenges, the department remains focused on improving learning outcomes and ensuring safe and inclusive education for all. — BM, GMA Integrated News
