BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Teachers from the five provinces and six cities under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Caraga Region are now preparing their respective school rooms after a projection of more than half a million students in both the elementary and secondary levels are set to attend the opening of classes next month.

The DepEd is expecting more enrollees this school year following the increase of more investments where newly recruited employees and workers coming from the various regions in Mindanao and the Visayas are migrating to the various areas in the region, particularly in this city, and even in the cities of Surigao and Tandag where the mushrooming of mining ventures are located.

Some school teachers in far-flung areas even fear of chair shortage and other school facilities.

However, officials from the regional office of the DepEd here said they are now preparing several strategies to handle the influx of more students this school year.

Dr. Lanie Montante, regional planning officer and supervisor of the DepEd-Caraga, said they are projecting an increase of about 408,589 students or 3.5 percent more this school year, compared to the 394,949 students in the elementary level last year.

She also said that the DepEd-Caraga is expecting some 164,982 students or five percent increase compared to the 159,124 students last year in the secondary public schools in the region.

“We are really expecting more enrollees this year,” she added.

DepEd officials made their assessments after noting the economic and population growth in the region.