From overcrowding to hope: How a new classroom is changing the future of young learners in Apayao

FEATURE

Santa Marcela, Apayao — For many children in remote communities, a classroom is more than four walls and a roof. It is where dreams begin, confidence grows, and opportunities take shape.

For the learners of Nueva Elementary School (NES) in Santa Marcela, Apayao, that dream became a reality on June 26 with the inauguration and turnover of a newly completed Classroom ng Pag-asa—a learning space that promises not only greater comfort but also renewed hope for hundreds of young iApayao learners.

The new classroom was formally turned over by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Apayao Second District Engineering Office (ASDEO) to the Department of Education (DepEd) and Nueva Elementary School during a simple yet meaningful ceremony held at the school campus.

For the students and teachers of Nueva Elementary School, the classroom represents far more than additional space. It signifies a commitment that every child, regardless of where they live, deserves a safe, resilient, and inspiring place to learn.

The newly completed facility is part of the Classroom ng Pag-asa Project (CPP), a flagship initiative jointly implemented by the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways under the government's Basic Education Facilities Program (BEFP).

The program aims to improve public education by constructing, repairing, replacing, and rehabilitating classrooms nationwide, including Technical-Vocational laboratories, Last Mile Schools facilities, and Learning Continuity Spaces.

Across the Philippines, thousands of learners continue to study in overcrowded classrooms or damaged school buildings. As of January 2026, the country still faced a shortage of more than 144,000 classrooms, prompting the national government to intensify its efforts to improve school infrastructure.

To address this challenge, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon signed a memorandum of agreement in April 2026 that seeks to accelerate classroom construction nationwide, with a target of beginning work on 20,000 new classrooms this year alone.

According to Angara, more than 9,000 classrooms are expected to be completed in 2026, including 5,000 newly funded classrooms under the 2026 national budget and 4,000 continuing projects carried over from 2025.

"We’re talking about over a thousand different local government units. Yung ibang governor at mayor, sabi nila kaya nila... other governors and mayors are claiming that they can deliver within 90 days. So, let’s see,” Angara said in an interview with national media.

The need for stronger school infrastructure is even more pronounced in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Following the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Uwan in 2025, more than 600 classrooms across the region were damaged, underscoring the importance of constructing learning facilities that are not only adequate but also resilient against future disasters.

Although no official tally has yet been released on the number of Classroom ng Pag-asa projects completed in the Cordillera, every newly built classroom represents another step toward restoring and strengthening the region's education system.

For DepEd Apayao, the completion of the Classroom ng Pag-asa at Nueva Elementary School reflects its continuing commitment to ensuring that every iApayao learner has access to quality education in a learning environment that is safe, comfortable, and conducive to academic growth.

Beyond easing classroom congestion, the new facility gives teachers a better environment to teach and students a better place to learn, interact, and dream.

For the children of Nueva Elementary School, the building is more than concrete and steel. It is a symbol of opportunity—a reminder that even in the province's quiet communities, hope can be built one classroom at a time.

As the country continues its effort to close the classroom gap, projects like the Classroom ng Pag-asa demonstrate that investing in school infrastructure is ultimately an investment in the future of every Filipino child.