On Thursday, July 4, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region V confirmed its readiness to accommodate the expected 1,733,251 enrollees from all 13 divisions in the Bicol region for the school year 2024-2025.
The said number of enrollees comes from all sectors under DepEd, including public, private, and SUC/LUC institutions, spanning from kindergarten to grade 12.
When asked if DepEd V is prepared to meet the needs of these enrollees, Regional Director Gilbert T. Sadsad expressed confidence in the region’s readiness to handle the increase in student numbers.
“This preparation is regularly undertaken by our school heads and officials to ensure smooth acceptance of enrollees,” Sadsad said, emphasizing the routine steps taken not only by their office but also by school authorities.
However, addressing the issue of infrastructure shortage for education, Sadsad mentioned the region’s continuous need for more classrooms.
“But when it comes to classrooms, we really need more every year,” he added.
Sadsad also disclosed that according to reports from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 714 new classrooms are scheduled to be built in the Bicol region for the upcoming school year.
He also noted that plans from previous years are still being addressed, with only 52 out of the planned 333 classrooms for SY 2023 completed, and 26 out of 40 classrooms planned for SY 2022 finished.
With ongoing preparations, Sadsad assured the media that DepEd Region V will continue to respond to ensure a conducive learning environment for the many students expected to embark on their academic journey in the coming school year. | BP newsteam
