More than 1.7 million students from public elementary and high schools in Region VI reported to their classes yesterday while the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros launched a signature campaign at the three biggest high schools in Bacolod City to oppose the implementation of the Kindergarten to Year 12 (K+12) basic education program of the Department of Education.

DepEd Regional Director Mildred Garay yesterday said the number might increase since the deadline for enrolment for public schools is today.

Bayan secretary general Christian Tuayon said they aim to gather 100,000 signatures from students and parents in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to support the filing for a temporary restraining order by the national progressive partylists in the Supreme Court.

Bayan kicked off its signature campaign at the Negros Occidental High School, Domingo Lacson National High School, and Bacolod City National High School.

He said the campaign is a national coordinated activity of all progressive organizations in the country hoping to stop the implementation of K + 12.

He added that even the additional budget of for the K + 12 is insufficient to address the 50,921 classrooms and 74,178 teachers needed.

Garay, however, said there is no shortage of classrooms in the region and schools have spare rooms to hold their classes while some of their buildings are being repaired.*LTG

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