Antique: Around 120,000 learners trooped to 609 private and public schools in Antique as classes for the Academic Year 2025-2026 officially started on Monday. 'The learners are excited for the opening of classes as well as the teachers ready to welcome them,' Department of Education (DepEd) Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Edward Ba±a said in an interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, there have been no serious challenges encountered since the annual maintenance activity 'Brigada Eskwela' already prepared the schools to welcome their learners. Schools lacking in classrooms attended to their learners through makeshift rooms or devised strategies to hold their classes. The province's public schools have a backlog of 2,000 classrooms.

The concern has been forwarded to DepEd central office. The Schools Division of Antique also said it needs a budget of PHP9 billion for the next five years.