DepEd Anticipates 27.6 Million Enrollees Amid Resource Shortages for 2025-2026

As the Department of Education (DepEd) officially opens the School Year (SY) 2025-2026 on June 16, it faces the daunting task of accommodating a projected 27.6 million students in basic education. This surge in enrollment significantly intensifies existing challenges, primarily a shortage of 165,000 classrooms and over 56,000 teachers, alongside limited learning resources nationwide. Education Secretary Sonny Angara and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will inaugurate the school year at Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Manila, marking a crucial moment in the Philippine education system's ongoing struggle to provide quality education amidst persistent resource deficits.

The breakdown of projected enrollment includes approximately 15.42 million students in elementary, 8.01 million in junior high school, and 4.17 million in senior high school, as reported by Dennis E. Legaspi, Chief of Media Relations at the Office of the Secretary. This increasing enrollment comes at a time when the DepEd is grappling with a significant shortage of educational infrastructure.

Historically, the Philippines has faced challenges in its education sector, particularly regarding classroom availability. The current classroom shortage of over 165,000 is a critical bottleneck in delivering quality education, particularly in densely populated urban areas. Secretary Angara noted that this deficit is exacerbated by rising population numbers and a lack of sustained investment in educational infrastructure. To combat this issue, DepEd is pursuing a three-pronged strategy, which includes constructing 105,000 classrooms through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), expediting infrastructure projects, and ensuring climate-resilient school buildings in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In addition to the classroom shortage, the teacher deficit is equally alarming. Currently, there are approximately 875,514 teachers deployed across the country. However, with enrollment projected to rise, an estimated shortage of 56,050 teachers is anticipated in 2025 alone. This situation highlights the pressing need for additional hiring, with plans to recruit 16,000 new teachers by the end of 2025, as directed by President Marcos and the Department of Budget and Management.

Amid these challenges, the DepEd has introduced a revised enrollment policy aimed at simplifying the registration process for parents. Under this new policy, parents are required to submit their child’s birth certificate only once throughout the K to 12 education cycle, reducing the burden of paperwork and associated costs. This change, as stated by Secretary Angara, aims to alleviate financial strain on families and streamline the enrollment process.

Despite the introduction of these measures, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of government support for public education. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has voiced criticisms of the government’s prioritization of educational funding, labeling the current classroom crisis as a “glaring result of systemic neglect.” ACT-NCR Union President Ruby Bernardo emphasized the need for sustained public investment rather than temporary solutions that may prioritize profit over educational quality.

In an effort to enhance the educational experience, DepEd has also ramped up its procurement efforts, delivering Smart TVs, laptops, and textbooks to schools shortly before the school year's commencement. These resources are seen as vital for modernizing classrooms and improving educational outcomes. Principal Jocelyn Reyes of Pagalanggang Elementary School remarked that the new technology would significantly benefit students’ reading skills.

As the school year unfolds, the DepEd is committed to addressing systemic gaps and mobilizing communities through initiatives like Brigada Eskwela, which encourages local participation in school maintenance and preparation. However, the challenge of overcrowding remains, with many public schools resorting to double or triple-shift schedules to accommodate the growing number of students.

In conclusion, while the DepEd is taking steps to manage the influx of students in SY 2025-2026, significant challenges remain regarding infrastructure and teacher availability. The success of these initiatives will depend on ongoing government commitment to prioritizing education funding and ensuring that every child has access to a conducive learning environment. The implications of these efforts will be crucial as the education sector seeks to adapt to the evolving needs of the student population in the Philippines.