With almost one million students
TACLOBAN CITY — Schools across Eastern Visayas welcomed students back to classrooms on Monday, June 8, with education officials reporting a generally peaceful and orderly opening of classes for School Year 2026-2027.
The Department of Education (DepEd)-VIII said schools throughout the region conducted orientation programs and other welcoming activities as learners returned for the first day of classes.
DepEd regional information officer Jasmin Calzita said the smooth opening of classes was made possible through the coordinated efforts of teachers, school personnel, parents, local government units, police officers, and barangay officials who helped ensure the safety and security of students and educators.
Initial data from DepEd showed that more than 989,800 students enrolled in public schools across Eastern Visayas have returned to their respective schools. However, Calzita said the figure remains provisional as enrollment continues in the region.
She said the agency has yet to release a breakdown of enrollment figures for elementary and secondary levels pending the completion of registration activities.
Despite the generally smooth start of classes, Regional Director Salustiano T. Jimenez acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly those that regularly surface during the opening weeks of the academic year.
“Opening classes will not be completely free of challenges, but DepEd Region VIII is ready to respond immediately and provide the necessary support to ensure the uninterrupted learning of our students,” Jimenez said.
To address concerns related to enrollment and school operations, DepEd activated Public Assistance Command Centers at the regional office, Schools Division Offices, and schools under the Oplan Balik Eskwela 2026 program.
The new school year also comes as DepEd continues efforts to address teacher shortages and improve classroom conditions in the region.
Jimenez said DepEd-8 is expected to hire at least 2,046 new public-school teachers for School Year 2026-2027. The additional personnel are intended to improve student-teacher ratios and help ease the workload of existing teachers.
Of the available positions, 1,245 are allotted for kindergarten and elementary schools, 275 for junior high school, 440 for senior high school, and 37 for the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
The hiring process will continue until September, with applicants required to undergo standard recruitment and evaluation procedures before being included in the registry of qualified candidates.
The new teaching positions form part of the 32,916 teaching items approved nationwide for the upcoming school year. The allocation was based on enrollment figures and the number of retiring teachers.
During the previous school year, DepEd recorded 55,885 teachers serving 4,197 public schools across Eastern Visayas.
DepEd officials called on stakeholders to continue supporting programs aimed at providing quality, inclusive, and safe education for learners throughout the region.
