Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said there have been numerous complaints that there are not enough teachers and classrooms available for the Department of Education’s K to 12 Basic Education Program, and that local government units may have to bear the brunt of the shortfall.

He expressed concern that, with the addition of kindergarten and two more years to high school despite the current classroom shortages, students could end up holding classes under trees.

Before adding additional school years, Marañon said focus should be made on improving the quality of teaching to ensure better education for students.

DepEd Regional Director Mildred Garay said the additional two years to high school education will be implemented in 2016 and 2017 yet so the DepEd has enough time to close the gap as far as number of teachers and classrooms are concerned.

She said under the Aquino administration the budget for more classrooms and teachers is much larger than in previous years.

In fact when classes open next month the DepEd in Region 6 will have 637 new teachers, she said. She explained that under the K to 12 progeam, universal kindergarten started in school year 2011-2012.

The new curriculum for Grade 1 to Grade 7, which in the past was first year high school, will be implemented starting next month for school year 2012-2012 and will progress in succeeding years.

Grade 11 of high school year five will be introduced in school year 2016-2017 and grade 12 or high school year six will be in school year 2017-2018, she explained.

The first batch of students to go through K to 12 will graduate in 2018, she said.

The two years to be added after the existing four-year high school program with be called senior high school.*CPG

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