Legarda pushes smaller class sizes to boost school quality

Sen. Loren Legarda has introduced legislation seeking to establish stricter limits on student enrollment in public school classrooms, citing concerns about educational quality and teacher workload. The proposal sets an ideal standard of 35 students per class while establishing a maximum threshold of 50 learners per room. According to Legarda, the issue extends beyond mere numbers, as excessive class sizes place significant strain on teachers' ability to provide adequate individual attention and instruction to each student. The senator's measure reflects growing concerns among education advocates that overcrowded classrooms compromise the quality of learning outcomes and contribute to teacher burnout in the Philippine public education system. The proposal comes as the Department of Education continues to grapple with infrastructure constraints and rising student enrollments across the archipelago's schools.