Enrollees for SY 2020-2021 reached over 20 million in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic -DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed there are over 20 million learners who registered in both public and private schools for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 to open this August, as the extended enrollment period officially ends.

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

The national data from DepEd showed that the total number of enrollees for SY 2020-2021 has reached 20, 220, 507 nationwide for Kindergarten to Grade 12. It also includes Alternative Learning System (ALS) and non-graded learners with disabilities. 19, 145, 129 million learners have enrolled in public schools and 1, 050, 434 registered in private schools.

At present, there are 1, 367, 297 learners enrolled in Kindergarten, 9, 991, 389 in Elementary, 6, 387, 991 in Junior High School (JHS) and 2, 175, 235 in Senior High School (SHS).There are also 51, 375 learners with disabilities who registered and 257, 220 under the ALS.

The highest number of enrollees were recorded in Region IV-A with 2,739, 171, next is Region III with 2,161, 262 and NCR with 2,070, 670.

With the country's situation because of the coronavirus, DepEd implemented a remote enrollment system. It is through alternative means of communication such as texting, calling, email, and online messaging that doesn't require physical appearance. Drop boxes and kiosks were also set up in barangay halls and schools where parents who do not have access to remote means of communication may pick up or drop off the Learner Enrollment and Survey Forms (LESF).

Schools are also allowed to accept late enrollees Citing DepEd Order No. Series of 2018. DepEd Undersecretary Jesus Mateo told that “a school may accept late enrollees provided that the learner will be able to meet eighty percent (80%) of the prescribed number of school days for each school year and the quarterly requirement to pass the grade level as governed by the latest existing applicable DepEd issuances.”

“If the learner cannot meet the required number of school days and the quarterly requirement, the school head may exercise his/her discretion to accept the enrollee and implement catch-up activities or interventions under acceptable circumstances,” Mateo added.

Mateo noted that for this school year, late enrollment may be allowed until last week of September.

DepEd said that parents are invited to submit the documents as soon as possible but the deadline for submitting documentary requirements to enrollment will be deferred until December 2020. It will be implemented both in public and private schools.

To ensure learning continuity, DepEd developed the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) wherein alternative learning delivery modes will be used. In addition to online learning and students’ self-learning modules, TVs and radio will also be used in learning when classes start.

DepEd said that learning modules will be available for students to use before the start of classes in August.