‘It’s still too early’: DepEd cautions against conclusions on enrollment


An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Aug. 19, cautioned against making conclusions on the initial enrollment figure for School Year (SY) 2021-2022.

Radio-based instruction is among the education delivery modalities under blended learning to be implemented this incoming school year. (File photo from DepEd)

DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan explained that the enrollment figure for the incoming school year is generated from the Learner Information System (LIS). However, the data of enrollees is still based on a “Quick Count.”

The regular enrollment period for public schools started on Aug. 16. DepEd has been issuing daily updates since Aug. 17.

Malaluan explained that instead of 9 a.m. as cut-off, “our data update releases will continue to be as of 2 a.m.” This, he added, is because the enrollment figure is “automatically generated” as of 2 a.m.

Meanwhile, Malaluan also cautioned against making some conclusions at this stage of the enrollment period. “It is still too early,” he said in a Viber message sent to reporters. “There is considerable lag in reporting,” he added.

For instance, he noted that some schools “collate first the enrollment forms” --- particularly those through drop-box before reporting to their respective field offices.

Due to the ongoing public health situation in the country, DepEd is holding the enrollment process via remote means.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/16/safety-first-deped-asks-parents-to-use-other-means-available-during-enrollment/

To guide stakeholders on the enrollment process this school year, the agency has issued DepEd Order No. 32 s. of 2021 or the “Guidelines On Enrollment for School Year 2021-2022 in the Context of the Continuing National Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19.”

In order to adhere to strict physical distancing measures, DepEd said that enrollment for SY 2021-2022 shall primarily be “administered remotely” particularly in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified ECQ (MECQ).

Recognizing that parents and guardians may not have access to remote means, DepEd said that they may be allowed to physically submit the Modified Learner Enrollment and Survey Form (MLESF) in schools located in low risk areas.

Similarly to last school year, DepEd said schools may facilitate dropbox enrollment methods. However, physical submission of MLESF should only be in schools that are located in lower risk areas and subject to strict observance of health protocols.

As of Aug. 19, DepEd said that there are over 5.3 million enrollees at the basic education level in both public and private schools for SY 2021-2022.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/19/deped-over-5-3-million-learners-enrolled-for-sy-2021-2022/

Malaluan said that DepEd will be releasing enrollment figures and updates “only on weekdays not over the weekend.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 27.7 million students enrolled at the basic education level which covered public and public schools --- including learners with disabilities and those who are under the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, DepEd saw a decrease in the enrollment among learners in basic education.

For SY 2020-2021, DepEd recorded over 26.6 million enrollees who were all under distance or blended learning set-up.