IN PHOTOS: Public schools open amid ‘increasing number of challenges’

FLAG CEREMONY. Aeta students of the Diaz Elementary School in Porac, Pampanga will be spending their classes in tents after their regular classrooms were destroyed by an earthquake last April. Photo by Lito Borras/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – More than 27 million students, mostly from public schools, attend their first day of classes on Monday, June 3, as school year 2019-2020 opened amid what the Department of Education acknowledged to be an "increasing number of challenges." 

In Pampanga, aeta students of the Diaz Elementary School spent their classes in makeshift classrooms. The school building is still undergoing repairs after it was damaged by an earthquake in April. 

In Metro Manila, some classrooms lacked chairs, while others were just full to the brim. 

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said the growing population of school children had caused an "increasing number of challenges." Despite this, she gave assurances the DepEd was expanding efforts "to deliver quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education."

More than 120,000 cops were deployed all over the country on Monday to ensure the safety of students. Metro Manila police chief Major Genernal Guillermo Eleazar made the rounds of schools to urge parents and students to report bullying to authorities. 

Here are some of the scenes during Monday’s school opening:

BOAT TO SCHOOL. Panghulo 1 Elementary School students living inside the flooded Artex Compound in Malabon ride on makeshift boats on their way to class. Photo by Noel Celis/AFP

SLEEPY. Elementary students at the Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School in Manila wait for the start of flag raising ceremony. Photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler

HUMAN TRAFFIC. Parents wait outside during the flag raising ceremony at the Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

RESIST BULLYING. NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar talks to students of the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Manila.

'NEW'. Students of the Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City receive their books.

TEMPORARY CLASSROOM. A parent checks out her child outside the makeshift classroom of the Diaz Elementary School in Porac, Pampanga. Photo by Lito Borras/Rappler

 

LACKING. Some students of Araullo High School in Manila have to sit on the floor during the first day of classes. Photo by Inoue Jaena/Rappler

– Rappler.com