More Than One Million Filipino Students Have Classmates At Different Grade Levels The Philippine

Department of Education says more than one million students are enrolled in multigrade classes, where
three or more grade levels are taught by a single teacher. SHARE SHARE TWEET SHARE AsianScientist
(Mar. 30, 2012) - Should a teacher cancel a class if there are only a few enrollees? And should a student
drop out if the school is far from home or if there are insufficent teachers and classroom? The Philippine
Department of Education (DepEd) says no. Instead, it has found one way to solve this problem, by
holding multigrade classes. In the Philippine public school system, classes with two grade levels inside a
single classroom taught by the same teacher are called combination classes. Classes with three grade
levels conducted in one classroom taught by a single teacher are called a multigrade or multilevel
classes. Figures from DepEd show that there are close to a million enrollees in multigrade classes across
the country. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said most of the students attending multigrade classes
belong to isolated and financially challenged communities, are indigenous peoples, and reside in far-
flung mountains and islands where schools are far apart from each other. The small number of students
for each grade level, the shortage of teachers, the distance from the community to the nearest school,
and the inadequacy of funds and classrooms are reasons that necessitate the organization of multigrade
classes, he explained. This means that children with different skills and abilities, developmental levels,
and needs are mixed in a class under the guidance of one teacher. This is part of our thrust to
democratize access to education and make the learning experience inclusive to as many sectors. In
effect, we are bringing more students to school, Luistro explained. If a class does not meet the
required number of enrollees and therefore it is not viable to conduct a class of limited number of
pupils, the supposed enrollees are merged into a single class and taught by one teacher, he added.
Although the DepEd has always recognized the existence of multigrade classes, it was only in 1990 that
the department started to formally acknowledge multigrade classrooms, in keeping with the goal of
Education For All. Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at:
https://www.asianscientist.com/2012/03/academia/philippine-deped-multigrade-classes-2012/

Multi Grade Classes in Philippine Education

Written by Judith E. Tanael

Published: 04 January 2011

Created: 04 January 2011

A multi grade class is defined as a class composed of two or more grades less than one teacher in a

complete or incomplete elementary school. But when was this system introduced in the Philippines
setting?
The Multi Grade System has been implemented since 1920s. it has always been covered by policies on
monograde class organization which resulted in multi grade classes. The multi grade system has been
with us for quite sometime but it is very obvious that we have not regarded it as a very viable alternative
delivery system to provide access to basic education as well as quality education by providing complete
grade levels in all public elementary schools.
While DECS (now DepEd) officials then had always recognized the existence of multi grade classes, it was
only under the leadership of Secretary Armand Fabella (1993-1994) that the multi grade program was
launched as a systematic and viable means of meeting the goal and providing education for all.
The existence of the multi grade classes in our country is also embodied under the provision of the
Philippine Constitution. Considering the present thrusts of the government to make at least elementary
education truly accessible to all particularly to children in remote barangays, a policy has been made and
declared to build a school in all school-less barangays where enrolment and population growth trends
warrant the establishment of a new school, and develop and /or implement the Multi grade System of
Delivery, so as to enable children to complete their elementary schooling particularly in areas where it is
uneconomical to put up a six-classroom building.
From then on, multi grade classes became truly a part of our educational system. at present, some of
these multi grade classes were already converted to monograde classes due to increase of enrolment
while other areas of the country are just starting to put up multi grade classes.