DepEd: More students enrolled in formal basic education this school year

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education (DepEd) has registered a 4-percent increase in the number of students enrolled in formal basic education classes.

In mid-November, the enrollment count stood at 27.23 million, higher by over a million or 3.8 percent versus the figure last school year, according to data from the Education department’s Learner Information System (LIS).

Enrollment in public schools rose by 5.25 percent or 1.19 million compared to last year’s figure. Meanwhile, enrollment in private schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs), and overseas schools registered a “slight decrease.”

Enrollment in “Philippine Schools Overseas” fell by 21.56 percent to 15,775 compared to last year, while those in SUCs and LUCs dipped by 12.8% to 103,551. Enrollment in private schools, likewise, inched down 4.83 percent to 3.21 million.

DepEd said the data is not yet final since 520 schools still have to update their enrollment profile in the LIS. The agency added that updated figures would be released by end-November.

“We welcome the turnout of the official enrollment. It validates the trend in our quick-count surpassing the enrollment last school year. This confirms our earlier statement that our learners last year continued their participation in formal school this year and that a considerable number of those who skipped last school year have returned to school,” it said.

DepEd targets to move closer to its quick count of 28 million, as it has extended the updating of enrollment until the end of the month.

Earlier this week, DepEd held its pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in 97 schools amid the pandemic. The agency halted the conduct of physical learning in three schools after some teachers tested positive for the virus.

READ: First day of pilot in-person classes successful, says DepEd

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