DepEd: 24.72 million public, private students enrolled as start of classes nears

Teachers distribute modules that will be used in distance learning at Francisco Elementary School in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The Department of Education shifted to distance learning for the upcoming start of classes on Monday (October 5) to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive for schools to delay face-to-face classes until COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. Inq photo/ Jam Sta Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — Two days before the opening of classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday said it has recorded 24.72 million public and private school students who have enrolled for the school year 2020-2021.

This number, according to DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali, is 89 percent of last year’s total of 27.7 million enrollees.

Classes are set to start on Monday, Oct. 5.

“So combined, we already have 24.72 million public and private school enrollees, and that’s like 89 percent of the numbers that we had for school year 2019 which is more or less 27.7 million,” Umali said during the Laging Handa online press briefing.

According to Umali, 22.5 million of the total number are enrolled in public schools, which is 99.68 percent of last year’s record of 22,570,923 public school enrollees.

“Kung isasama po yung private schools, meron pong 2.16 million na naiulat na po sa atin, mahigit na po ‘yan sa limampung porsyento,” Umali said.

(If we’re going to include private schools, we have 2.16 million that were reported to be enrolled, that is more than 50 percent.)

Meanwhile, Umali also noted that there were from 400,000 to 450,000 former private school students who have transferred to public schools.

The numbers are expected to increase still because of late enrollees, Umali said.

“Everyday may nadadagdag po, bagamat medyo mabagal na po yung pagtaas ng mga numero po natin, hindi po katulad nung nagsimula pa lang tayo ng ating enrollment campaign nung Hunyo, in-extend natin hanggang July 15, maski late enrollees pa rin po kasi, tumatanggap pa rin po tayo,” he said.

(Everyday the numbers are increasing. Despite the slow rise unlike when we started the enrollment campaign in June, which was extended until July 15, even if they are late enrollees, we still accept them.)

“Lalo na po sa private schools. we hope we get all the enrollees that our private schools had received para makumpleto na po yung datos po natin,” he added.

(Especially those in private schools, we hope we get all the enrollees that our private schools had received so we can complete our data.)

The Education Department previously set its enrollment target to 28 million. However, this number was lowered to 22.2 million in July due to a dismal turnout caused by the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

/MUF