27 Million Students Returning To Schools On June 16

The Department of Education (DepEd) is bracing for the return of at least 27 million students as school year 2025-2026 officially opens on June 16, with nationwide preparations already underway to ensure a smooth transition back to in-person classes.

In a dzBB interview, Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn Andaya revealed that this figure is a few thousand higher than last school year.

She noted that the early registration, which began in January, helped DepEd determine and prepare for the incoming student population.

To ensure a smooth school opening, DepEd will activate its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) from June 9 to 13. 

The initiative includes Brigada Eskwela, a cleanup and repair drive involving public and private sector volunteers. 

President Marcos is set to lead the kickoff of Brigada Eskwela tomorrow at a school in Bulacan.

Aside from general maintenance, DepEd is also addressing the lack of classroom furniture. Damaged chairs and tables will be repaired, while procurement for additional supplies is ongoing.

The department is also ramping up efforts to resolve long-standing issues in public school infrastructure. 

“We partnered with the public sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP), an initiative of our (Education) Secretary (Sonny Angara) and we will be able to build 105,000 new classrooms. We will accelerate it through the early procurement activities. We will push this through constant coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),” Andaya said.

Meanwhile, to improve the student-teacher ratio, DepEd is addressing a shortfall of 56,000 teachers, with 20,000 new teaching positions already approved for hiring this year by the Department of Budget and Management.

“Once we complete filling out (the 20,000 teachers), our shortage will be 22,000. It will decrease by up to 65 percent,” said Andaya.

According to Andaya, some classes still have a 1:50 teacher-student ratio, prompting the implementation of double-shift class schedules in densely populated areas, particularly in Metro Manila and Region IV-A (Calabarzon).

Class suspension

As the rainy season approaches, Andaya reminded the public that class suspensions due to inclement weather or emergencies will be jointly coordinated by DepEd and local government units.

“We have a DepEd order that the suspension should be done as early as 4 a.m. and others are already conducting an announcement the night before,” she noted.

The upcoming school year begins amid persistent challenges in the basic education sector, including overcrowding, inadequate facilities and personnel shortages.

Still, DepEd assures the public that steps are being taken to deliver a better learning environment for Filipino students.

Security

Over 37,000 police officers will be deployed across the country to ensure student safety during the opening of classes on June 16, the Philippine National Police announced Friday, June 6.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that security preparations are in place to safeguard students, teachers and school personnel.

“We are ready. More than 37,000 police officers will be deployed,” Fajardo said in Filipino over,dzBB radio.

Of the total, about 5,000 personnel will be stationed at police assistance desks near schools to provide immediate help and maintain peace and order. Other officers will be assigned to conduct mobile and foot patrols around school premises and nearby public areas.

In Metro Manila, a total of 5,344 police officers will be deployed on the first day of school, according to Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, director of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Among them, 1,612 will be stationed in southern Metro Manila, 1,240 in the northern part, 589 in the eastern sector, 955 in the City of Manila and 427 in Quezon City.

Aberin also said that 521 personnel from the regional mobile force battalion are on standby for quick deployment should additional security be required.

The increased police visibility and presence in Metro Manila are part of the agency’s intensified response strategy following the directive of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who recently implemented a five-minute response policy for all police units in addressing crimes and emergencies, particularly those involving students and the youth. – With an additional report from Emmanuel Tupas