Business leaders urged: Help solve classroom shortageMANILA, Philippines — Warning that delays in infrastructure and limited digital access continue to constrain learning opportunities for millions of Filipino students, Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday called on business leaders to take a central role in addressing the country’s 165,000-classroom shortage and modernizing public schools. Speaking at the leadership forum of the Philippine Business for Education in Makati, Angara said the scale and urgency of the education crisis demand deeper collaboration between government and industry. He said the Department of Education (DepEd) is pursuing large-scale public-private partnerships (PPP) to fast-track classroom construction and improve school infrastructure. “We are embedding technology into the core of our system to ensure that Filipino learners are prepared for the future,” Angara said. Angara stressed that private sector participation is vital in bringing technical expertise, innovation and efficient project implementation.

Source: Philippine Star February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC