Broadsheet Issue Vol. XL
Irvin Ian Pacheco and Jelyn EstradaCompared to last year’s total population of 29, 381 students, Bulacan State University (BulSU) recorded the highest 16.53 percent increase having a total of 35, 198 enrollees this academic year, welcoming BulSUans with insufficient classrooms to bear.
The College of Engineering (COE) recorded the highest number of enrollees with 5, 025 while the College of Information and Communication Technology (CICT) followed with 3, 589. On the other hand, the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) landed 3rd with 3, 329. Overall, BulSU Main Campus’ population hit a 7.27 percent growth rate or a total of 27, 908, in comparison with last year’s 24, 067.
Meanwhile, the 4 satellite campuses also reached an increase with a total of 7, 290 enrollees in all. Bustos Campus recorded the highest with 3, 262 tailed by Sarmiento with 2, 548. Furthermore, Meneses Campus recorded 1, 114 students while Hagonoy Campus listed 366.
More students, less classrooms
As the population continuously grows, the administration admitted that the university is having a hard time accommodating students in terms of facilities and classrooms that can lead to a fallback on the quality of education provided by the institution.
“Kapag maraming students, marami tayong matutulungan kaso kaakibat na d’yan ‘yong kakulangan sa classrooms, sa gan’yang problema maaaring mag-suffer ang quality ng education,” lamented BulSU President Mariano de Jesus.
Since limited classrooms are available to accommodate the increasing number of enrollees, students were grouped and divided into large numbers, resulting to overpopulated sections. Instead of having 50 students in every section, CICT holds 65-70 students per section.
Almost the same problem affects CIT, which offers two-year technical courses. “Kasi ‘yong ibang students, hindi nila kaya mag-afford ng four-year courses, ‘yong iba naman hindi umabot sa 83% [prescribed average to take an entrance examination for four-year courses] ‘yong grade nila kaya dito sila pumupunta, at karamihan din ay ‘yong mga hindi pumasa, nakikiusap sila na pumasok dito,” explained Dr. Alexander Dela Paz, Dean of CIT.
Likewise, COE somehow tried limiting the number of students per section, but was unable to do so. “May mga higher year na bumabagsak on a peculiar subject, so ‘yong presence nila nakakadagdag on the lower sections or year,” said COE Dean Nicanor Dela Rama.
Moreover, other insufficient facilities such as computer laboratories pains different colleges within the university. According to CICT Dean Fausto Hilario, most colleges with computer subjects utilize CICT’s computer laboratories. As a result, the consequence of having to share their computer rooms affects CICT students directly.
“COE lang at CAFA (College of Architecture and Fine Arts) ang may sariling computer lab kaya the rest ng colleges, dito pumupunta para mag-computer,” Hilario said.
On the other hand, James Gabriel of BSIT 3B-G1 related, “Okay ‘yong mga facilities, ‘yong mga rooms ang kulang. Nilalagyan na lang kasi ng dividers ‘yong rooms to provide classrooms. [So] ‘yong learning space nila [students] lumiliit. Nagiging less conducive.”
New buildings to rise
Due to the continuous population growth, colleges are forced to add more sections and use weekends to have regular classes to accommodate all students.
“Ang CICT walang pahinga ‘yan, buong linggo bukas kami. Sa sobrang daming estudyante, hindi namin sila kayang i-accommodate ng Lunes hanggang Biyernes lang o kahit hanggang Sabado, marami kasi ang nakikiusap na makapasok at hindi naman natin sila matanggihan, kaya bilang solusyon, pati linggo may pasok kami,” explained Hilario.
Moreover, BulSU Director for Planning Niccolo Velasco admitted that the school lacks classrooms and believes that it must be prioritized by the administration. According to him, classrooms are only less than 300, serving 27, 000 students in the main campus.
"There is a need for classrooms because you see, we utilize places like the rooftop and within the lobby of the education building which are not very conducive for any teaching classes. Maingay tapos 'yong roof top napakataas, hinihingal pati estudyante makarating lang doon," he said.
Velasco added that population inflates with an approximate rate of 10% every year, thus delaying action will give the university serious problems. "So if we do not provide more classrooms today we will be called flat-footed without classrooms," Velasco added.
Meanwhile, the administration is already taking actions to patch the issues on hand. Plans for new buildings and classrooms were already presented like the extension project of Araling Panlipunan at Pilosopiya building, renovation of the old supply building to classrooms and the newly constructed two-storey building near the 3rd gate.
“Ang plano ko next board meeting ay mag-allocate ng pera para sa construction ng more classrooms,” said De Jesus.
Furthermore, construction of new classrooms in the satellite campuses is also planned, starting off in Hagonoy Campus with its second floor currently being constructed and expected to be completed before the second semester starts.
“Lahat ng problema, may solusyon ‘yan ika nga, kahit pakonti-konti nagagawan ng paraan, I know the university can survive with these problems,” the prexy ended.