Around 2M students in K-12 program expected to transfer from private to public schools amid pandemic — COCOPEA

Around two million students of the K-12 curriculum may be forced to leave private schools in the incoming school year due to the economic impact of COVID-19, according to the Coordinating Council for Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) on Thursday.

In a virtual Senate hearing, COCOPEA managing director Atty. Joseph Estrada said prior to the pandemic, around four million out of the total 27 million basic education learners in the Philippines are enrolled in private schools.

However, Estrada said that based on a survey, this number could decrease by 25% to higher than 50% because of the expected belt-tightening measures that will be employed by many Filipino families.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said it is also preparing for such student transfers.

"Magko-conduct kami ng enrollment validation to estimate how many of our school kids would go to our schools so that we may anticipate the requirement that is needed," Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo said.

"We are anticipating nga dahil sa challenges na ito, ang mga bata will either migrate from private schools or totally drop out," he added.

Mateo said DepEd also mulls tapping parent-teacher associations nationwide given that parents and guardians will play an important role in ensuring that learning won't stop despite the health crisis.

The DepEd has scheduled the official opening of classes on August 24 but said that face-to-face learning will not be required especially in moderate- to high-risk areas.

Printed modules, digital platforms, radio and TV, among others are currently being explored to facilitate home-based learning. 

Private school teachers, personnel need gov't aid

Around 300,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel are employed in private schools nationwide, according to the DepEd.

Estrada said that amid the pandemic, many of these workers are experiencing "no work, no pay," hence, he called for government subsidy for them.

"We're waiting po sana for direct support for them, direct subsidy for them. Most, if not all schools were not able to get assistance from DOLE CAMP and also from the DOF. The DOF said the education sector is not included in the sectors who are qualified to receive Small Business Wage Subsidy," he said.

The DepEd, on the other hand, expressed support to the said call but added that the list of possible beneficiaries must further be streamlined, citing for example that providing a one-time P8,000 cash aid to all members of this workforce would cost the government P2.4 billion.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, in a virtual interview, said he would try to explore mechanisms other than the social amelioration program such as expanding the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE).

"'Yung social amelioration kasi ang criteria doon a family earning less than P10,750/month. Obviously ang teachers hindi papasok doon dahil ang kanilang minimum salary mas mataas," he said. — RSJ, GMA News