Education crisis deepens despite record 2026 budget

By Juliane Judilla

Despite receiving the largest allocation under the 2026 national budget, the education sector continues to face severe shortages in classrooms, facilities, and learning resources, raising concerns over the government’s ability to address long-standing issues in the country’s public education system.

Three weeks into the implementation of the basic education tri-term calendar, schools nationwide are already confronting challenges brought by curriculum and academic calendar adjustments.

These difficulties are compounded by persistent shortages in infrastructure, staffing, and learning materials.

A recent study by research group IBON Foundation said the country’s classroom backlog could reach 200,000 by 2028.

The projection comes after the Department of Public Works and Highways, as cited in EDCOM II reports, disclosed that only 22 classrooms were completed in 2025.

The Department of Education earlier reported 146,708 classroom backlogs nationwide, while the DPWH said it completed only 22 of 1,700 target classrooms as of October 2025.

The study also highlighted critical deficiencies in school facilities across the country.

Around 39,335 schools require electrical upgrades, yet only 260 electrical connections have been completed out of 974 projects targeted from 2018 to 2024.

In addition, 3,861 schools still lack access to potable water.

Learning resources remain insufficient as well.

With approximately 26 million students enrolled for school year 2026–2027, only three textbooks are available per student on average.

The shortage has forced many teachers to create supplementary learning materials at their own expense and initiative.

The shortage of educators also continues to burden the education system, with 51,127 teaching positions remaining unfilled nationwide.

Technology resources are likewise scarce, with only one laptop available for every 30 public school teachers and one laptop for every nine students.

Conditions are especially difficult in Last Mile Schools, which serve around 1.6 million learners in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.

Of the country’s 9,000 Last Mile Schools, approximately 1,500 lack electricity, while 1,000 have no toilet facilities, according to the study.

Education advocates and youth groups have called attention to what they described as the government’s failure to prioritize the urgent needs of students and teachers despite the sector’s substantial budget allocation.

Arlie Bosque of Kabataan Party-list Panay stressed the need for immediate government action to address chronic underfunding and infrastructure deficiencies in public education.

“The government’s much-publicized ₱1.35-trillion ‘historic budget’ for education fails to adequately address the sector’s most pressing infrastructure needs,” Bosque said.

“Only ₱85 billion is allocated for new classrooms and classroom backlogs, which is far below what is needed to resolve the estimated 200,000-classroom shortage that has accumulated over decades of neglect. This also falls short of UNESCO’s recommendation that governments allocate at least 6% of GDP to education. The consequences are evident every school opening, with students forced to endure overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated facilities, and inadequate learning environments,” they added.

UNESCO’s Education 2030 Framework for Action sets an international benchmark of 4% to 6% of gross domestic product, or 15% to 20% of public expenditure, for education spending.

The youth party-list group also urged the government to channel public funds toward education development and away from corruption.

“While students suffer from dilapidated and insufficient classrooms and teachers struggle with meager salaries, Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte continue to evade accountability to the people. Instead of funding corruption, resources should be allocated to education because students and the youth have the right to free, quality, and accessible education,” they added.

EDCOM II has also warned that more than 51,000 classrooms could be condemned by 2028 as aging structures reach 50 years old, further worsening the country’s classroom shortage.