DepEd tally: 1M students enroll in Bicol despite pandemic

LEGAZPI CITY—More than 1 million students have enrolled in the Bicol region for the next school year despite the continuing uncertainty and threat brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Department of Education (DepEd) officials on Tuesday (June 30).

At least 60,818 students enrolled in kindergarten; 468,923, elementary; 322,386,  junior high and 134,621, senior high school.

At least 4,208 students with disabilities enrolled, too, and 13,825 listed up for the Alternative Learning System (ALS), according to the DepEd.

Most of the students enrolled in public schools, with 965,592 while 39,189 students signed up in private schools.

Mayflor Marie Jumamil, information officer of DepEd in Bicol, said the department expected the number of enrollees to increase with the extension of enrollment until July 15.

For now, she said the DepEd Bicol was focused on preparing modules so these would be ready for production or reproduction by school divisions and schools by July.

Local government units, she said, would help distribute learning modules to students.

Jumamil also reiterated that there was no need to buy gadgets for school.

“No need for internet connection or laptop, etc. because blended learning will be adopted in Bicol,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had expressed preference to keep schools closed until vaccines against coronavirus were available.

TSB