The Department of Education (DepEd) reported it achieved 99 percent of the enrollment in public schools, two weeks before the school year opens on October 5.
“We have 14 days until school opening, and we have a lot of good news that is being shared to use when it comes to preparations for the opening of classes,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said during the virtual “Handang Isip, Handa Bukas” press conference.
According to DepEd national data on enrollment, 22.36 million students enrolled in public schools as of September 21. The figures are 99.06 percent of the enrollment in 2019 at 22.5 million.
“We are very successful in attracting our enrollees into the public system schools,” Briones said. “This is a very good news because, in spite of all the challenges, fears, anxiety, and pressures, we were able to achieve 99 percent of last year’s public school enrollment,” she added.
DepEd reported 1.6 million learners enrolled in Kindergarten; 11.2 million in elementary; 6.9 million in Junior High School (JHS); 2.05 million in Senior High School (SHS); 62, 804 non-graded learners with disabilities, and 384, 027 in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in public schools nationwide.
DepEd opened the enrollment for public schools on June 1 until July 15. However, it was extended when the opening of classes was pushed to October 5.
DepEd reports 99% enrollment in public schools
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools implemented a remote enrollment system through phone calls, emails, text, and online registration.
DepEd also placed kiosks and boxes in schools and barangay schools where parents could pick up or drop off the Learner Enrollment and Survey Form (LESF).
The latest data showed a total of 24.53 million students enrolled in public and private schools across all levels in basic education. This covered 88.35 percent of last school year’s enrollment of 27.7 million.
“We have exceeded our original target of 80 percent, so this is already a victory for us and for the entire basic education system,” Briones said.
The DepEd chief noted that enrollment in private schools had reached 2.12 million or 49.32 percent SY 2019-2020’s enrollment at 4.3 million.
“We see many students going back to private schools,” she said. “Overall, our latest enrollment data is very inspiring and encouraging.”