The Department of Education Division of Negros Occidental lacks 1,800 classrooms, its spokesperson Arnold Arnaez said Thursday, August 24.
Classes in public schools are set to start on Tuesday, August 29.
Their latest quick count shows that 234,000 elementary and high school students have enrolled in the Negros Occidental Schools Division so far, Arnaez said.
Enrollment will be until Friday but latecomers will be accommodated because of the policy that no child should be left behind, he said. There were about 300,000 students enrolled during school year 2022-2023, Arnaez said.
In areas where there are a lack of classrooms, home economics buildings, libraries and even principals’ offices are temporarily used, he said.
The DepEd has a no uniform policy for its students, Arnaez added.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte will join the launching of World Teacher’s Day at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City on September 8, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.