Manila: The newly completed two-story, eight-classroom building at Rawis Integrated School is set to end the practice of shifting schedules, providing more adequate learning spaces for students and faculty.

According to Philippines News Agency, the building project, funded by the Department of Education's Basic Education Facilities Fund with an allocation of PHP40 million, is designed to serve nearly 1,000 learners, along with 36 teachers and five non-teaching personnel. The school currently offers Grade 7 and Grade 8, with plans to add Grade 9 in the upcoming school year.

Principal III Rommel Bachiller expressed his relief and gratitude for the new facilities, stating that the school had previously been conducting emergency classes and implementing shifting schedules. The new classrooms will allow the school to return to a regular schedule, improving the learning environment for students. Currently, classes are held in two shifts from 6 a.m. to noon and noon to 6 p.m., but with the additional classrooms, Grades 5, 6, and 7 will finally have dedicated spaces.

Bachiller mentioned that once the new classrooms are operational, the school would resume a regular schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. He emphasized the need for more classrooms as the student population continues to grow annually. He also expressed his gratitude to DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and others involved in the project, acknowledging that the completion of the building is a significant achievement for the school community.

Classroom development projects are also being rolled out in other Bicol provinces, including Camarines Sur and Sorsogon, to address similar needs in the region.