PUBLIC schools in Cebu Province and Cebu City will open their doors today to at least 670,000 students.
But local school officials admitted that shifting of classes is expected because of classroom shortage or the ongoing construction of some school buildings.
Dr. Bianito Dagatan, Cebu City Schools Division superintendent, said they are set to welcome at least 170,000 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 today.
Dagatan said that public schools in Cebu City have been told to set up their Oplan Balik Eskwela Information and Action Center (OBEIACs) to assist students and parents in today’s first day of class.
At least 5,400 teachers will be manning the assistance center, Dagatan said.
The DepEd official, however, admitted that they are not fully ready for today’s school opening as there are still some schools that lack classrooms.
As of this month, Dagatan said at least 40 new school buildings have been constructed to address classroom shortage.
Dagatan said that the division was able to secure clearances to use these facilities for today’s opening of classes even if these are still scheduled to be turned over by the Department of Public Works and Highways to the DepEd Cebu City.
The same problem also hounds some public schools under the Cebu Provincial Schools Division.
Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud, Cebu Provincial Schools Division superintendent, told SunStar Cebu that there are some schools that still need more classrooms.
Like Cebu City, DepEd Cebu also have ongoing classroom constructions that have yet to be finished, Angtud said.
But she assured that public schools in Cebu Province are physically ready to welcome students due to the work they have done during the Brigada Eskwela.
Meanwhile, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas has ordered all village chiefs to deploy their barangay police to public schools to provide security to students.
Gullas also ordered the local police to secure public schools in the city.