The Quezon City government has its eyes set on acquiring new properties to be developed by the city as future school sites.
Mayor Herbert Bautista considers the sites acquisition plan a vital part of the city’s program to accommodate the growing QC student population, which is expected to further increase with the full adoption of the K+12 curriculum that will provide two more years to basic education starting 2012 .
“QC intends to come up with a massive school building construction program next year to address the problem of classroom shortage that may arise during the implementation of the new education curriculum,” the Mayor said.
According to the Mayor, the city will be continually hard-pressed to construct more school buildings in District II, which accounts for the most number of students enrolled in the city’s public schools system.
Last school year, District II registered an enrolment of 260,942, which represents almost 63% of QC’s entire student population of 416,339.
Before the adoption of the K+12 curriculum, District II has a shortage of less than 500 classrooms.
There are also plans for QC to construct additional school buildings in District I, III and IV where the ideal classroom-student ratio of 1:45 had already been achieved.
Bautista, during an inspection of newly-refurbished kindergarten rooms at the Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. Elementary School along Commonwealth Avenue, ordered city engineer Joselito Cabungal and division schools superintendent Dr. Corazon Rubio to conduct an assessment to determine which areas are feasible as school sites.
Given the huge financial requirement for property acquisition, the Mayor said, the city will opt for the construction of school buildings that will be built vertically to maximize use of the property.
Meanwhile, city administrator Victor Endriga requested the business permits and licensing office, the department of building official and the QC Fire Department to intensify the conduct of ocular inspections on dormitories operating in the city.
In a memorandum, Endriga underscored the need to conduct the inspection to ensure the safety and security of students residing in said establishments.
“We have to make sure that owners of these business establishments are complying with city ordinances and regulations pertaining to public safety.” Endriga said. -30- Precy/ Rico/ Dante/ Ramir/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO
