Education officials in Bohol admitted lack of classrooms remains a problem in public schools and might be the same scenario to meet the students and pupils when the school year opens this June.

Engr. Domingo Lamoste, physical facilities coordinator of DepEd Bohol, explained though that there are fewer classrooms lacking this time compared to the previous years.

At least 985 classrooms had been destroyed during the October 2013 earthquake that are being repaired, according to DepEd-Bohol.

Dep-Ed also finished construction of 623 classrooms, while 166 had been donated.

More than half a billion pesos from different agencies had been culled for the classroom construction program of the province, according to DepEd-Bohol.

Among the sources were the Quick Response Fund, Public Private Partnership, PAGCOR and the Basic Education Facilities Fund.

In addition, Gov. Edgar Chatto yesterday led the inauguration and turn-over of a three-classroom academic building in Janlud Elementary School in Batuan.

The American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) Foundation also donated a two-classroom transitional school building to Pansul Primary School in barangay Cabantian, Guindulman, upon the request of Third District Rep. Arthur Yap.
The original school building was damaged by the October 15 earthquake.

Lamoste also assured that unlike in the past, there would no longer be classes to be held under the shades of trees, amid the lack of classrooms.

Some classes will be at the Temporary Learning Shelter (LTS), or makeshift classrooms while DepEd is completing the classrooms.

DepEd-Bohol is yet finalizing the enrolment, but a slight decrease is expected from last year’s record of 270,776 elementary pupils and around 270,00 high school students.