Amid reports of students allegedly dropping out due to challenges in distance learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that the enrollment for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 has reached over 26 million. 

Based on the Comparative Enrollment report from DepEd’s Public Affairs Service (PAS), the total enrollment at the basic education level is already at 26, 657, 411 as of Jan. 15, 2021. 

Compared to the enrollment when classes started in October 2020 at 25, 035, 660, DepEd’s latest enrollment data showed 6.48 percent increase or 1, 621, 751 enrollees. 

There were also notable increases per sector based on the October 2020 vs February 2021 enrollment. In public schools, an increase of 1.64 percent (366,250) in enrollment - from 22, 346, 159 to 22, 712, 409 - was reported. 

In private schools, there was a 51.76 percent (1,151,305) increase in enrollment from 2, 224, 443 to 3, 375, 748. In State Universities and Colleges/Local Universities and Colleges (SUCs/LUCs), there was a 100.59 percent increase (59,551) from 59,204 to 118,755. 

There was also a 6.05 percent (24, 545) increase in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program from 405, 854 to 430,399. 

DepEd issued this data after the Social Weather Stations (SWS), on Feb. 24, released the result of its latest survey noting that 13 percent or an estimated 4.4 million school-aged Filipinos are currently not enrolled in school. 

SWS said that the nationwide survey was conducted among 1,500 respondents on Nov. 21-25, 2020. The said survey also noted that 87 percent of five- to 20-year-old Filipinos or 29.8 million are currently enrolled in school. 

As early as December, groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), have warned against a “looming massive dropping out” of students as indicated by reports from its regional leaders about unclaimed modules, unanswered retrieved modules and dwindling online class attendance.

Based on a survey conducted by Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education (SEQuRe Educ Movement) in November to December, “54% of teacher respondents attest that sizable portions of their classes were not keeping pace with the lessons.”

However, the allegations of massive dropouts under distance learning was firmly denied by the DepEd. “There has been no clear indicator of massive dropout attributed to blended learning, based on the assessment conducted by our field officials,” the agency said in a statement issued Jan. 28.

In SY 2019-2020, DepEd data showed there were 27,770,263 enrollees. A total of 22,572,923 students enrolled in public schools while 4,304,676 learners went to private schools.