DepEd: 42 public schools have yet to start classes

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-two schools remained unable to open classes for school year (SY) 2024-2025 yesterday due to flooding from heavy rains, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported.

Hundreds of schools nationwide were forced to postpone the opening of classes on July 29 due to damage caused by typhoons and the monsoon-induced heavy rains and floods. All schools were expected to reopen yesterday.

The 42 schools, all in Malabon City, are still grappling with flooding damage caused by Typhoon Carina and Sunday night’s heavy rains.

Dennis Legaspi, media relations chief of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, said 47,818 schools had already opened as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said 23,845,025 students have enrolled for SY 2024-2025 in public and private elementary, junior high school, senior high school and Alternative Learning System (ALS).

The breakdown showed that 20,859,109 students are enrolled in public schools, while 2,666,903 students are enrolled in private schools.

Meanwhile, 38,277 students are enrolled in state and local universities and colleges offering basic education, while 280,736 are enrolled under the ALS.

Per education level, elementary schools have the most number of enrollees with 13,234,374 students, followed by junior high schools with 7,011,942 and senior high schools with 3,317,973.

Most of the enrollees come from Calabarzon with 3,464,861, followed by Central Luzon and the National Capital Region, both with over 2.4 million enrollees.

Only a week since classes reopened for this school year, teachers are on the verge of tapping out due to prolonged teaching hours, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reported yesterday, as it called on the DepEd to shorten the six-hour teaching policy in public schools.

The TDC said the DepEd needs to suspend the implementation of class programs under the MATATAG curriculum and the six-hour teaching policy and start consultations with teachers bearing the brunt of the “burdensome” policies.

“Many teachers are saying they are tired after only a week. Others wanted to give up on the first day,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said.

The TDC disclosed that they have received numerous reports of