MANILA — ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro emphasized on Sunday (May 5, 2024) the necessity for the government to construct more classrooms as a long-term solution to the extreme heat experienced in classrooms due to the El Niño phenomenon.

“Pagbi-build ng enough classrooms para sa ating mga estudyante para magkaroon din ng standard class size kasi ‘yung 50 [or] 60 students per class sobrang dami nun sa mga classrooms,” Castro expressed.

“Kailangan talaga mag-double time ang DepEd (Department of Education) sa pagbi-build ng classrooms,” she added.

Castro, also a teacher, pointed out that some classrooms, especially in urban areas, accommodate 60 students per class.

According to DepEd, the ideal class size shall range from a minimum of 15 students to a maximum of 65 students per class. The ideal average class size shall be 50.

“Kaya kailangan talagang mag-adjust ang ating pamahalaan, and DepEd doon sa pagpapabilis ng pagbi-build ng classroom at paliitin ang class size,” Castro stressed.