THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) clarified that school buildings reaching 50 years of age will not automatically be demolished, saying these facilities will first undergo thorough inspections to determine their structural condition and whether their serviceability can be extended through necessary repairs.

The clarification came following reports citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which estimated that 51,222 classrooms nationwide will reach the 50-year mark by 2028.

DepEd emphasized that the age of a school building alone is not sufficient grounds for demolition. Instead, facilities will undergo detailed, condition-based assessments to determine whether they can safely remain in use through targeted repairs or rehabilitation.

“Hindi awtomatikong kailangang gibain ang isang silid-aralan kapag nag-50 taong gulang na ito. Tinitingnan natin ang mismong aktwal na kondisyon nito. Kung matatag pa rin ang lumang silid-aralan, binibigyan natin ito ng karagdagang taon ng paggamit,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

“Kung kailangan ng kumpuni, maliit man o malaki, agad natin itong inaayos. Ang paggiba at pagpapalit ay nakalaan lamang sa mga estrukturang talagang hindi na ligtas o hindi na praktikal kumpunihin,” Angara added.

Under the DepEd framework, aging classrooms are categorized according to their structural condition and readiness for continued use.

Classrooms found to be in good condition will continue to be used and maintained, potentially extending their operational lifespan by an estimated 15 years.

Facilities requiring basic maintenance will be repaired promptly using Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds, with the goal of adding up to 10 years to their serviceability.

Structures requiring significant work will undergo rehabilitation where technically feasible and safe, potentially extending their operational life by five years.

Facilities assessed as structurally compromised or beyond repair will be scheduled for demolition and replacement.

For long-term planning, DepEd projects that an average of 18,132 classrooms per year may require replacement between 2026 and 2030, and 18,380 classrooms per year between 2031 and 2035.