QC schools division cites challenges, gears up for opening of classes
(AFP FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — With the opening of classes next week, schools in Quezon City still lack classrooms and facilities, Assistant Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Freddie Avendaño acknowledged on Tuesday.
During the QC Journalists’ Inc. forum, Avendaño said that issues of congestion and inadequate classroom needs were largely concentrated in Districts 2 and 5, including the Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School and Batasan Hills High School.
Classrooms
“We would like to acknowledge that classroom needs remain to be a challenge in Quezon City, particularly in [Congressional District] 2 and 5,” Avendaño said.
Avendaño, however, said that the school division cannot immediately construct additional infrastructures despite recognizing these areas, especially with the opening of classes on Monday.
READ: DepEd says school year 2025-2026 will start June 16
“We can’t adjust the physical facilities. Our preparedness focuses on the learning modality,” he said.
He affirmed, however, that the integrated construction of facilities in various areas, namely Payatas C and Old Balara are part of the long-term plans of the school division and are already being streamlined.
Learning flexibility
He also mentioned that the Department of Education (DepEd) had already launched a pilot implementation of the Dynamic Learning Program — designed to provide flexibility in learning amidst disaster and calamities in eight schools in Quezon including Quezon City High School and Doña Rosario High School.
“The department is currently implementing a Dynamic Learning Program. The education secretary himself made the pronouncement.”
READ: DepEd sets new learning program for calamity-hit schools
Avendano sees in the next academic year the possibility of wider integration of the program among congested schools to improve learning conditions.
Blended learning
Meanwhile, he outlined that schools in the districts will be allowed to implement blended learning programs despite the recommendation of the DepEd to use physical learning to temporarily address the issues.
DepEd- LGU collab
He also ensured that collaborative efforts between the Department of Education and the Quezon City government will be sustained to oversee the printing and distribution of learning resources to the students.
“We are working together. The DepEd provides the manufacturing operational expenses. Quezon City is also providing additional assistance in the form of photocopiers and printing machines to meet the needs of the students,” he said.
Other programs that are being studied are the expansion of class sizes and administering team teaching between two instructors for facilitation to maximize the use of one classroom. (Nelson Caparas Jr., 好色先生TV trainee)
