DepEd needs 165,443 classrooms, plans 105,000 via PPP

The Department of Education (DepEd) is addressing a national classroom shortage of 165,443 classrooms.

Region IV-A (Calabarzon) has the highest shortage with 31,002 classrooms, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 24,847, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 13,237.

Within Calabarzon, Cavite has the largest deficit with 8,832 classrooms, followed by Rizal with 8,516 and Laguna with 7,589.

Luzon accounts for 54 percent of the total national classroom shortage, with other regions also facing significant deficits.

DepEd estimates that each incoming batch of learners requires approximately 11,000 new classrooms annually.

The DepEd plans to build 105,000 classrooms between 2026 and 2031 through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, with an initial wave of 15,000 classrooms costing an estimated P60 billion.