BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

As public schools reopened nationwide for School Year 2025–2026, the Department of Education (DepEd) assured the public that it is taking concrete steps to address longstanding problems in basic education, even as it delivered a smoother and safer class opening across the country.  

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led school visits in Bulacan and Quezon City to monitor preparations and highlight the administration’s efforts to improve school facilities, electrification, and learner support. 

“We’re making sure na may kuryente lahat, may tubig lahat. ‘Yun ang mga basic services na makita natin para naman maging maayos ang pag-aaral ng ating kabataan,” President Marcos said during the school opening in Quezon City. 

Secretary Angara also conducted site visits in Taguig City, Laguna, and Agusan del Norte, including the energization of Datu Saldong Elementary School, a remote campus previously without electricity. 

“There are only 46 students, pero meron silang problema sa absences because children are distracted. Pero noong kinabit nila ang kuryente noong Lunes, ayaw na umuwi ng mga bata. It just shows that if we can engage our students, we can really do a lot for our people,” Angara shared.  

The Education Chief also led the inauguration of a new Alternative Learning System–Community Learning Center (ALS-CLC) in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, reaffirming DepEd’s commitment to accessible, flexible education for all learners, including those outside the formal school system. 

Across the country, DepEd reported a largely peaceful and organized opening of classes, following extensive coordination with local government units, regional offices, and partner agencies. Among the new support programs rolled out this year is the CLASS+ (Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus) initiative which provides public school learners and teachers with direct access to health services that were once difficult or costly to reach. 

Reforms underway 

Still, DepEd acknowledged the urgent need to confront persistent education challenges. In Naic, Cavite, around 1,800 students continue to attend classes in makeshift structures due to overcrowding and a shortage of classroom space. In Eastern Visayas and other regions, the lack of licensed guidance counselors has made it harder to address cases of bullying and provide mental health support. Flooding remains a recurring issue in low-lying schools in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Pangasinan, disrupting classes and damaging learning materials. 

To ease classroom congestion, DepEd is working with the private sector to build more than 15,000 new classrooms by 2027. New school buildings are also being designed to withstand natural disasters, including multi-storey structures with open ground floors to prevent damage from flooding. 

To boost student well-being, the Department is strengthening Child Protection Committees and recruiting more School Counselor Associates and Division Counselors. Angara emphasized that mental health is now a central concern in education policy. 

Meanwhile, all 1.4 million kindergarten learners are now covered by the expanded School-Based Feeding Program, up from just 360,000 in the previous year. 

DepEd also confirmed that 884,790 teaching positions had been filled as of June 15, ensuring that public schools are fully staffed as in-person learning resumes. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) also recently reported that it recently completed the approval of the 20,000 teaching items requested by DepEd for 2025. 

“Education is not just about opening schools,” Angara said. “It’s about making sure that every classroom is equipped, every teacher supported, and every child given a real chance to learn. That means confronting these issues head-on—flooding, congestion, mental health, access—and working with everyone to solve them.” 

With the school year now underway, DepEd vowed to accelerate reforms and inter-agency coordination, aiming to deliver not just a successful opening week but a truly responsive education system throughout the year. 

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from DepEd