Manila, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) is currently looking into the possible implementation of a 4+1 blended learning model, which consists of four days of face-to-face classes and one day of online classes for students.
This move is a response to the continuing shortage of classrooms in many schools across the country, which causes overcrowding among students.
According to DepEd, there is still a classroom deficit of about 165,000 classrooms nationwide.
This is far from enough to accommodate the growing number of students being recorded by the agency.
During the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly, Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the important role of local government units in overseeing the construction of classrooms in line with the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Through the local government units (LGUs), it would be easier to identify which schools should be prioritized for additional classrooms.
Education Department aims to construct 30,000 classrooms by 2028 under conventional procurement.
Meanwhile, under the Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project Phase III (PSIP III), 15,000 classrooms will be built in areas with large student populations.
Another 2,571 classroom units will also be installed in more than 1,000 municipalities.
Aside from the planned pilot testing of the 4+1 blended learning model, the department is also studying the possible expansion of the voucher system for elementary or primary education.
Meanwhile, during the LMP General Assembly, representatives from different municipalities also agreed to accelerate the construction of classrooms in their respective areas.
It can be recalled that DepEd had earlier reached agreements with provincial governors and city mayors for the construction of school buildings.