THE DEPARTMENT of Education aims to resolve the 165,000-classroom backlog by leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

“With a combination of strategic partnerships and digital investments, DepEd is committed to bridging both the classroom and digital divides to create a future-ready education system that produces competitive and highly employable graduates,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Angara presented the plan to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a recent meeting at Malacañang, following the signing of the Technical Assistance Agreement with the PPP Center in December 2024.

DepEd estimates that the initiative, under the PPP School Infrastructure Project, will cost between ₱37.5 billion and ₱60 billion and benefit over 600,000 students nationwide. It is also expected to generate at least 18,000 jobs.

“The classroom gap is a massive challenge, but we believe that leveraging private investments through PPPs is the most efficient and sustainable way to address this,” Angara added.