Some 7 million students miss last day of extended enrollment, says teachers' group

Around seven million students were not able to enroll on Wednesday, the last day of the extended enrollment period, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras,” ACT’s estimation was based on the 27 million expected enrollees for the upcoming school year.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said a total of 20.22 million students had enrolled as of 8 a.m. Wednesday or 72.7 percent of the total number of enrollees last year.

Out of the 20 million students, 84.8 percent or 19.14 million enrolled in public schools, while 24.3 percent or 1.05 million enrolled in private institutions.

“Hindi natin nakikita na may garantiya ‘yung mga magulang sa usapin ng kaligtasan, sa usapin ng accessibility ng edukasyon, at more so sa kalidad ng education,” ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio said.

“Under this so-called ‘blended learning’ duda tayo kung saan ba papunta ‘yung programang pang-edukasyon dito sa pagbubukas ng pasukan kaya talagang hindi maiiwasan ‘yong agam-agam ng mga magulang na mag-enroll,” he added.

DepEd clarified that the mode of learning of the students is up to the parents.

“Alam natin na iba’t iba ang kakayanan ng mga parents, so meron tayong programs, both at the regional level as well as the national level kung saan inu-upscale, bini-brief ang mga parents,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News