ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro

A teacher-turned-congresswoman is eyeing a "thorough investigation" on the reported three-million decrease in the number of enrollees for school year (SY) 2023-2024. 

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, a member of the Makabayan bloc, expressed deep concern over this significant drop even as she demanded an explanation from the Department of Education (DepEd). 

"It is truly disheartening to see that instead of an increase in the number of students as we transition back to normalcy, we are witnessing a drastic drop of over three million enrollees," Castro said. 

Historically, student enrollment in the Philippines has been increasing by 2 percent every year. A decline in enrollment occurred during the SY 2020-2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it showed signs of recovery in the following SY. 

"As it is, the Philippine education system not only faces the challenge of learning loss but also the loss of three million learners. We must delve into the causes of this issue and conduct a thorough investigation," said the House deputy minority leader. 

Castro urged the DepEd to prioritize addressing the barriers that hinder students from enrolling, such as lack of access to technology, economic constraints, and safety concerns. 

"We cannot afford to allow this trend to continue. The government must take immediate action to ensure that every Filipino child has equal access to quality education," Castro added. 

"Our children's future is at stake, and we cannot allow any child to be left behind," she further said.