Breakthrough Solution to Reduce Congestion in Public Schools

Abstract

In 2014, Coalitions for Change (CfC) began an effort to introduce institutional changes to improve the learning environment. In the first quarter of 2016, DepEd, with assistance from CfC, achieved a major breakthrough-DepEd developed an analytical system and procedures and issued guidelines to purchase a land parcel to establish a new school. Previous efforts at purchasing land for new schools had been ad hoc and arbitrary. By the end of 2016, DepEd successfully purchased seven parcels expected to accommodate about 28,000 students from congested schools. The purchase of these additional parcels represent the institutionalization of a reform, one of the principal goals of CfC. This story outlines the process and challenges of achieving this breakthrough reform.