THE DEPARTMENT of Education has launched its Classroom Leasing Initiative, a program designed to decongest overcrowded public schools.

According to DepEd, the initiative is a stopgap measure developed in coordination with local governments and private-sector partners to immediately ease congestion while permanent classroom construction is underway.

Classroom leasing has now been formally adopted as a national infrastructure strategy to address space constraints in high-density areas.

Under the program, the leased facility is serving as an annex of Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated National High School, allowing Senior High School students to transfer to a nearby site. This move helps reduce overcrowding and provides learners with a more comfortable environment for learning.

“Hindi natin isinasantabi ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong silid-aralan. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang classroom construction sa buong bansa. Pero habang ginagawa ito, kailangan din nating mag-isip ng mga praktikal at agarang solusyon gaya ng classroom leasing para hindi na maghintay ang mga bata at guro ng ilang taon bago magkaroon ng maayos na lugar para matuto,” Angara said.

He also emphasized that the initiative complements long-term infrastructure programs, including traditional classroom construction, public-private partnership projects, and other alternative delivery modalities.