While the formal basic education enrollment for School Year (SY) 2021-2022 increased by four percent, the informal education or the Alternative Learning System (ALS) saw a sharp decline with a 60 percent decrease in enrollment.
With 27,232,095 enrollees this school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Nov. 18, announced that the enrollment for SY 2021-2022 in formal education was higher compared to SY 2020-2021.
JUST IN: @DepEd_PH posts 4% increase in enrollment for basic education in SY 2021-2022 @manilabulletin
— Merlina Hernando-Malipot (@MB_InaHernando) November 18, 2021
Based on the DepEd’s Learner Information System (LIS) as of Nov. 15, DepEd said that the official enrollment in formal basic education is 1,005,073 or 3.83 percent higher compared to last year’s enrollment at 26,227,022.
DepEd said that by sector, public schools enrollment increased by 1,187,632 or by 5.23 percent from the enrollment in SY 2021-2021.
When it comes to Alternative Learning System (ALS) enrollment, DepEd saw a 60 percent decrease in enrollment.
The current ALS enrollment is at 239,616.
This, DepEd said, is 359,749 or 60 percent less than the 599,365 ALS enrolment last year.
Given this, DepEd said that it is “doubling its efforts” to increase this number.
The enrollment in ALS, DepEd explained, is on a “rolling basis” --- thus, it extends beyond the enrollment period in formal education.
DepEd also noted that there was a “slight decrease” in enrollment in private schools, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) that offer basic education and Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs).
Not yet final
DepEd, however, clarified that the “enrollment data is not yet final” as there are still 520 schools or 47 public, 437 private, 25 SUCs/LUCs and 11 PSOs that have yet to update their enrollment profile in the LIS.
“For this reason, we have kept the system open to allow these schools to update their enrollment profile in the LIS up to end-November 2021,” DepEd said.
Likewise, DepEd also notified the Division Superintendents --- where the non-participating schools are located --- to “find out the reasons why these schools have not updated their enrollment profile.” The concerned divisions were also instructed to provide assistance in completing the LIS updating, if necessary.
Meanwhile, DepEd has seen a “reversal” in the trend on transfer of learners.
“Whereas there was greater migration from private to public schools last year, this year there was a net migration from public to private schools,” DepEd said.
DepEd data showed that more than 612,140 learners transferred from public to private schools.
Additionally, DepEd said more than 305,513 learners transferred from private to public schools --- for a net transfer from public to private schools of 306,627.
Overall, DepEd welcomed the turnout of the official enrollment because it “validates the trend” in the quick-count surpassing the enrollment last school year.
“This confirms our earlier statement that our learners last year continued their participation in formal school this year, and that a considerable number of those who skipped last school year have returned to school,” DepEd said.
With this, DepEd expressed optimism that it will move close to the enrollment quick count of 28 million with the extension of enrollment updating to end-November.
DepEd said that it will release a more granular enrollment analysis after the end of this month.