The Department of Education (DepEd) has recorded a 27.3 percent drop in enrollment from kindergarten up to the senior high levels versus the turnout in the previous academic year.
The education bureau shared a total of 19.14 million students enrolled in public schools and 1.5 million students enrolled in private schools as of Wednesday, July 15. This includes students enrolled in alternative learning programs as well as students with disabilities. 300,877 learners from private schools transferred to public schools, noted DepEd.
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces (CALABARZON) had the most number of enrollees, followed by Central Luzon and the National Capital Region (Metro Manila).
READ ALSO: Pasig City reports 93 percent enrollment turnout
Amid the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic, the turnout for public schools was 15.2 percent lower versus last year, whereas it was a 75.7 percent decline for private schools. DepEd Secretary Briones linked the drop to the effect of the pandemic on the economy and said this would change once people become employed again and the economy fully opens.
DepEd also noted that schools would accept late enrollees until late September, as long as the pupils passed their previous grade level by attending at least 80 percent of the prescribed number of school days and quarterly requirements.
Classes were earlier disrupted in March upon the implementation of community quarantines across the country. In the upcoming school year, blended learning or the combined use of television, radio, and the Internet will be adopted to deliver education to learners while observing health protocols such as physical distancing.
The 2020-2021 school year is set to formally open on August 24.
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Enrollment sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa Maynila, lagpas na sa target
DepEd: Mga guro walang ‘enrollment quota’
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