3 million students ‘missing’ in public school enrollment a week before class opening —DepEd

Some three million public school students have not enrolled yet a week before the opening of classes on October 5, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday.

In a press conference, DepEd Undersecretary Jess Mateo said the department continues to urge parents to enroll their children amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kung pagbabasehan natin 'yung last school year's enrollment of 27 million, meron pa tayong natitirang more or less …mga 2 million plus or 3 million,” he said when asked about the shortfall of enrollment in public schools.

“Patuloy pa rin 'yung kampanya natin sa tulong po ng ating local government units at kayo po sa media na makumbinsi natin ‘yung mga magulang na pag-aralin 'yung kanilang mga anak,” he added.

As of Monday morning, the DepEd said the total number of enrolment has reached 24,661,788, which is only 88.80% compared to last year’s record.

Of the total, DepEd said 22,460,996 came from public schools.

“DepEd is still anticipating an increase in enrollment figures as reports from the field continue to come in,” DepEd said in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Schools will also accept late enrollees even beyond the enrollment period, as stated in DepEd Order No. 003, s.  2018,” it added. — BM, GMA News