The Department of Education (DepEd) is eyeing the implementation of a “modified enrollment process” when the enrollment period for the basic education level starts next week.

DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla on Thursday, Aug. 12, confirmed this to the Manila Bulletin amidst the continuing national public health emergency due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

However, Sevilla clarified that DepEd is also scheduled to release the “enhanced enrollment guidelines” which will guide parents, legal guardians, and teachers in the enrollment of learners for the incoming school year.

Prior to the opening of School Year (SY) 2021-2022, DepEd will be holding regular enrollment for kinder, elementary, Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) students starting Aug. 16 until Sept. 13 - which is also the first day of classes for public schools.

The enhanced enrollment policy to be issued by DepEd aims to provide schools and community learning centers (CLCs) with “various options for implementing a modified enrollment process that adheres to the guidelines and standards” set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED), the Office of the President, and the Department of Health (DOH), and the direction of the DepEd’s Basic Education -Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).

DepEd is set to issue the enhanced enrollment policy to “provide guidance to school heads, teachers, and parents/guardians regarding the new enrollment process for SY 2021-2022 considering the continuing health safety measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The procedures and policies set forth under these guidelines, DepEd said, shall be “adopted” by all public schools in basic education and personnel implementing Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs.

Likewise, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) offering basic education and private schools in basic education are also encouraged by DepEd to adopt this policy to their “specific contexts.”

In SY 2020-2021, DepEd transitioned from the traditional way of enrollment to a completely remote strategy. While the remote enrollment process was considered a success, DepEd noted there were also “issues and challenges that were encountered” last school year.

The enhanced enrollment guidelines aim to address these challenges to ensure a smooth enrollment process in the upcoming school year.

The policy is also expected to offer a “range of options” relating to the enrollment of learners for all public schools in basic education and Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs nationwide.

Moreover, the enrollment guidelines also seek to ensure “continued access to learning opportunities through the conduct of an enrollment process that is efficient, safe and in line with minimum health and safety standards.”

In a statement issued by DepEd on Aug. 7, DepEd said that it has finalized the School Calendar for SY 2021-2022 which will “still feature blended learning approach in the delivery of basic education.”

DepEd also maintained that the conduct of face-to-face classes, “whether in partial or full-scale” will still not be allowed unless permitted by President Duterte.

The department also assured that it “will continue to learn and innovate from the past year of dealing with the global crisis” as the country faces another school year under the so-called “new normal.”