WV still suffers from serious shortage of text books, teachers
Perennial problems on shortage of text books, teachers and leaking classrooms greeted students in both public elementary and secondary schools in the region during the opening of classes last week.
The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office projected a shortage of over two million text books for grade school and secondary level this year if the government would not immediately meet the backlogs last school year.
In a DepEd report, Iloilo and Negros Occidental had a total shortage of 524,158 textbooks in elementary level last year.
In secondary level, Iloilo provinces incurred the highest number of textbook shortage of 401,953 followed by Negros Occidental with 307,399.
Moreover, for this school year 2007-2008, about 600 more teachers are needed to accommodate some 1.4 million students expected to go to public elementary and high schools this year.
DepEd expected an increase of 13,047 students in Western Visayas.
To meet the educational demand of students, some 314 more teachers are reportedly needed in public elementary schools and 270 in secondary level.
The province of Iloilo has the biggest shortage of teaching personnel in grade schools with 79.
In secondary level, Negros Occidental, excluding its component cities, topped the list with the most number of needed teachers at 136.
Far-flung villages where students have to walk miles to attend classes also suffer lack of seats and dilapidated classrooms.
Negros Occidental and Iloilo need 146 more classrooms for elementary students. In the secondary level, Iloilo and Capiz needs 161 and 72 more instructional rooms, respectively, to accommodate increasing number of students this school year.
(PNA)