Public-Private Partnerships Vital for Classroom Construction
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of the Public-Private Partnerships scheme in addressing the country’s critical classroom shortage. He revealed that through this approach, the government aims to build over 100,000 classrooms within the next five to ten years, a goal that aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent commitment.
During the president’s fourth State of the Nation Address, he pledged to construct 40,000 new classrooms by 2028, fully supported by congressional funding. This pledge aims to resolve the persistent shortage of classrooms nationwide.
Accelerated Building Efforts with Private Sector Support
Secretary Angara shared that the Department of Education is actively scaling up the Public-Private Partnerships to fast-track classroom construction. “With the help of the private sector, we will build more classrooms,” he stated during a post-SONA forum.
He added that while the government has built about 6,000 classrooms annually over the past decade, the partnership approach could significantly increase this number to over 100,000 classrooms in five to ten years.
Urgent Need to Address Classroom Shortage
Angara highlighted that the shortage of classrooms directly impacts the quality of education young learners receive. Immediate action is essential to ensure students have adequate learning spaces.
Large-Scale Infrastructure Plan with Private Sector
Earlier this year, the Department of Education unveiled an ambitious infrastructure plan ranging from P37.5 billion to P60 billion. This project, developed in collaboration with private partners, aims to build 15,000 new classrooms by 2027.
The initiative is expected to benefit more than 600,000 students and create over 18,000 jobs nationwide, providing both educational and economic advantages.
Local leaders noted the critical role of these partnerships in transforming the educational landscape and accelerating progress beyond what government efforts alone have achieved.
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