DepEd Targets 20,000 Classrooms in 2026 to Address Nationwide Shortage

The Department of Education (DepEd) is targeting the construction of 20,000 classrooms in 2026 as part of a broader effort to reduce the country’s persistent classroom shortage, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara. The target reflects the government’s push to expand school infrastructure and improve learning conditions in public schools.

The classroom construction program is being implemented in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which said it aims to complete at least 9,000 classrooms this year. Reports said around 5,000 of these are tied to the 2026 target, while about 4,000 are backlogs from 2025 that are expected to be completed by September.

Officials described the initiative as a potentially record-setting year for classroom construction in terms of both funding and implementation. Angara said the government is working not only to increase the number of classrooms built, but also to accelerate project delivery in response to overcrowding and infrastructure gaps in schools across the country.

The program comes as the country continues to face a massive classroom shortage. Recent reports place the backlog at more than 144,000 to 165,000 classrooms nationwide, highlighting the scale of the challenge confronting the education sector.

To speed up implementation, DepEd and DPWH signed a memorandum of agreement to streamline project delivery under the Basic Education Facilities Program. Under the arrangement, DepEd will identify priority schools and prepare infrastructure requirements, while DPWH will handle bidding, construction, and quality control of school buildings.

The government’s classroom construction drive is expected to play a key role in improving the learning environment for students, particularly in densely populated and high-need areas. While officials have presented 2026 as a crucial year for school infrastructure, the success of the program will depend on how quickly projects move from planning to actual completion.