Unfinished school buildings in QC and Antipolo await students

Some students at the Bagong Silangan High School in Quezon City will be sharing classrooms as its new senior high school building was far from ready.

According to a report on Balitanghali by Lei Alviz on Saturday, the building's construction was started in January.

"Minsan walang gumagawa at sabi nila kasi, tinatapos pa nila yung ibang kontrata ng contractor sa ibang lugar yata," assistant to the Principal Gloria dela Cruz said.

As a temporary solution, some classrooms were being partitioned to accommodate more students.

"Sobrang init po, siksikan, pag-uwi po pawis po. Pagod na pagod po," a student said.

Also, the state of the unfinished building has raised safety concerns.

Scaffolding and steel bars were seen sticking out from the ditch for the foundation, which appeared to be flooded as of the report.

Antipolo City

Classrooms were also being shared at the Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City as the construction of a classroom building had been stalled for almost a year.

A single room would be used to accommodate two classes, each having up to 40 students, and teachers have reportedly started shelling out money from their pockets just to put up dividers.

"Sa plywood, P700, sa labor, P300. Kulang nga po sa budget, kaya kumbaga parang kami po muna yung bubunot sa sarili pong bulsa namin,"  Jean Cafe said.

"Kahit na sabihin natin na may divider 'yan, pag nagsabay nang magsalita 'yung teacher magkabilaan, sigurado hindi na magkakaintindihan 'yan," said Manolito Resaba, the president of the Antipolo Public School Teacher Association.

While the school administration said it did not give out an order for teachers to put up dividers, it vowed to reimburse the expenses.

"Wala po akong order na i-subdivide 'yung classroom. Pangalawa po, ay sinasabi ng teachers na i-subdivide dahil initiative po nila 'yun. At pangatlo, kung sila man ang nag-abono, ire-reimburse po sa school maintenance and other operating expenses," Juan Sumulong principal Dr. Ferdinand Millan said.

Sought for comment on the matter,  Education Secretary Leonor Briones in a text message to GMA News Online said the concerned  regional director has already been instructed to check on said schools. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News