DepEd considers 4+1 blended learning to help ease classroom congestion

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking at a possible “4+1” blended learning setup as one of its key options to help address overcrowding in public schools.

Under the proposed arrangement, students would attend face-to-face classes for four days and shift to online learning for one day, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

The proposal forms part of DepEd’s broader effort to find faster and more effective ways to reduce classroom congestion nationwide, amid persistent shortages in school facilities.

Angara said the department is rethinking traditional approaches to education delivery in a bid to improve efficiency and transparency.

“We are no longer content with the old system. We are changing the way we deliver to make it faster, more efficient, more effective, and more transparent,” he said.

The education chief raised the proposal during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly 2026, where he also stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the national government and local government units in solving the country’s classroom backlog.

DepEd is studying the blended learning model alongside other interventions meant to ease pressure on overcrowded campuses while longer-term classroom construction projects are underway.

The agency has been ramping up efforts to expand school infrastructure, but officials say alternative delivery modes may also play an important role in managing congestion, particularly in high-density areas.

The 4+1 setup is being explored as a possible way to maximize available classroom space while maintaining regular instruction for learners in the public school system.