Inclusive schooling gets a major nudge

Construction of classrooms nationwide may soon be fast-tracked following the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill 1482, also known as the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, a measure Senator Christopher “Bong” Go co-authored and co-sponsored.

The bill aims to address the persistent shortage of classrooms by institutionalizing the program under the Department of Education (DepEd) and providing a more coordinated framework for the construction of school buildings, particularly in areas with severe classroom backlogs.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Go stressed that the condition of educational facilities directly impacts students’ learning experience and overall well-being, especially in public schools, where overcrowding remains a common challenge.

“It is important to ensure that children have proper, safe and decent classrooms. Students cannot be expected to learn well if the spaces they enter every day are overcrowded, sweltering, or unsafe,” Go said as he underscored the need for timely and systematic classroom construction.

SBN 1482 establishes mechanisms to hasten the building of classrooms by allowing qualified local government units and accredited partners to undertake construction projects in accordance with DepEd standards. 

The program also seeks to ensure that new classrooms are structurally sound and responsive to local conditions, including weather-related risks.

Go emphasized that improving physical learning environments is a practical step toward supporting both students and teachers, particularly in underserved communities.                             

“If we truly wanted to address the problems in education, any reform must be matched with adequate facilities. A classroom is not a luxury — it is a basic necessity,” the senator pointed out.