Students who enrolled for the school year 2021-2022 have reached 17.9 million, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday, Sept. 6.
Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan bared during a televised briefing that the 17.9 million enrollees translate to 68.5 percent enrolment rate from last year's figure.
Enrolled students reached 26.2 million last year.
"Inaasahan natin na matumbasan, kung hindi man mahigitan, yung enrollment last year na 26.2 million (We are expecting to reach, if not surpassed, the 26.2 million enrolment last year)," Nepomuceno said.
The enrollment period will run until Sept. 13 which is also the first day of classes for the upcoming school year.
"Kaya hinihikayat natin ang ating mga magulang na huwag nang maghintay hanggang sa last day ng enrollment (This is why we are encouraging parents no to wait for the last day of enrollment)," the undersecretary said.
The DepEd, he also said, is encouraging enrollees last year to continue and students, who skipped last school year, to come back this school year.
Nepomuceno also said that they are hoping to be included in the next cabinet meeting to present the guidelines for the proposed pilot face-to-face classes to seek the approval of the President.