DUE to the shortage of classrooms, the school divisions in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay may have to implement the double-shift class schedules to accommodate the enrollees this year.
Like in previous years, the school divisions have to address the lack of teachers, classrooms, chairs and books.
"There are a lot of dilapidated classrooms. There is a need to construct new school buildings," Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Corteshe told reporters yesterday.
To address the problem, City Administrative Officer Benjamin Tiongzon said they might resort to the double-shift class schedule and require late enrollees to bring their own chairs to school.
There will be classes from 6 a.m. to noon and another batch will use the classrooms from noon to 6 p.m.
Tiongzon said they will also ask the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 to help them address the shortage of classrooms,
teachers and books.
Cortes said the City will fund the construction of a new school building at the City Central School that could be used by next school year.
He will ask for the help of University of San Carlos for the architectural planning and design for the planned school building.
Mandaue City has 27 elementary schools and 21 secondary schools.
Tiongson said they are expecting a 20 to 30 percent increase in enrollees this year.
Last year, the city's public schools accommodated 52,586 elementary and high school students. They expect an additional 10,000 to 15,000 increase this year.
He noted there were a lot of transferees from private schools and other school divisions.
However, they could not accommodate more than the schools' capacity so the quality of education won't suffer, said Tingzon.
Cortes also intends to set up a wide waiting lounge for parents inside the school compound so they won't stay on the streets, worsening the traffic problem.
In Lapu-Lapu City, Acting Schools Division Superintendent Eduardo Ompad said they are seeing a three to five percent increase in enrollees.
Once they determine the total number of students, they will consider other options before implementing the double-shift class schedule, which is their last resort.
Frat watch
Security was tight in schools, where a maximum of two policemen were detailed--a security arrangement that forced Acting City Police Director Mariano Natuel to realign the deployment of policemen from crime-prone areas to schools.
Natuel said 20 policemen from the Regional Mobile Group augmented the city's police force.
He also mobilized intelligence personnel to thwart attempts by fraternity members to recruit students.
An increase of enrollees was noted in grade one and first year high school and Ompad attributed this to the migration by workers at the Mactan Economic Zone.
In Talisay City, the shortage of classrooms and armchairs was also reported.
More than 60 pupils crammed in one classroom, exceeding the ideal 1:45 classroom to pupil ratio set by the DepEd.
In a grade four classroom at Borromeo Brothers Elementary School in Barangay Cansojong, the number of pupils reached 67.
"But this is only temporary because we have to get some unused or slightly damaged desks and armchairs from other
schools," said Talisay City Schools Division Assistant Supt. Ofelia Hermosa.
Old students did not encounter problems in classroom assignments because the assignment of sections was done prior to the opening of classes, she said.
This is due to DepEd's policy of automatic enrollment for old pupils in grades two to six and of old students from second to fourth year.
Only transferees, incoming grade one pupils and first year students had to enroll.
But if classrooms can no longer accommodate the students, they may adopt the double-shift class sessions, said City Schools division Superintendent Woodrow Denuyo.
Denuyo, who is the concurrent head of the Carcar City Schools Division, will hold a meeting with Hermosa and Talisay's school supervisors today to tackle the shortage of classrooms and chairs, among others.
For their part, City Administrator Richel Bacaltos and Councilor Dennis Basillote said they have no feedback yet from
Denuyo about the problem on the first day of school this year.
They hope to meet Denuyo this week for an assessment.
Bacaltos said the City Government is willing to hire more volunteer teachers to augment the regular staff.
The City hired 150 teachers, receiving a P6,000 to P7,000 monthly salary chargeable against the Special Education Fund. Talisay City has over 700 regular teachers.
Vehicular traffic was also manageable yesterday.
Most of the vehicles got stuck only underneath the flyover and the narrow streets in Barangay Tabunok, said Police Traffic Chief Henry Obiso. OCP/AIV/GC