MANILA, Philippines — Although classes have already started, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed optimism that more learners will enroll for this school year as the country gradually reopens its economy.
“With the opening of economy, with economic recovery, sigurado kami na tataas ang enrollment sa DepEd,” Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday in a televised briefing.
(With the opening of the economy, with economic recovery, we’re sure that enrollment will continue to increase.)
There are so far 24.7 million students enrolled in public and private schools for the school year 2020 to 2021.
Of the figure, 22.1 million enrolled in public schools, 2.1 million enrolled in private school while over 396,000 enrolled in DepEd’s alternative learning system for out-of-school youth and adults.
“Dahil unti unti nang binubuksan ang ating ekonomiya, magkakaroon ng ng trabaho ang mga parents, makabalik sila sa gawain nila at makayanan na nila mapagaral ang kanilang mga anak,” Briones said.
(Since we are gradually reopening the economy, parents will return to their jobs and be able to enroll their children in school.)
“With the opening of the economy, yung workers na nagaaral sa gabi, nag-aaral during weekend, ‘pag nakabalik sila ng trabaho, balik eskwela din sila,” she went on.
(With the opening of the economy, workers who have jobs at night and study during weekends, once they return to their jobs, they will also be able to return to school.)
Briones said learners can still enroll until November despite classes beginning on Monday.