Total enrolment so far down to 16M from P27M

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THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said enrolment in public and private schools is down to 16 million compared to P27 million last year and attributed this to the health situation amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Due to the low turnout, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has sent teachers to various low-risk areas communities to convince parents to enroll their kids.

The DepEd has extended enrolment up to July 15.

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According to the enrolment data from June 1 to 30 released by the department, 16,610,703 students have enrolled so far in private and public schools across the country.

During the same period last year, enrolment stood at 27.7 million.

Enrolment in private schools dipped to 706,936 from 4,304,676 last year. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said this is because enrolment for some private schools, including State Universities and Colleges, start only this August.

Meanwhile, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario yesterday pushed for the construction of on-base temporary shelters for public school teachers to address issues of teachers spending so much time and money to go to their teaching posts, especially those in remote areas.

Del Rosario made the proposal during a Senate hybrid hearing presided over by Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, regarding Senate bills 660 and 934 calling for housing program for public school teachers.

Del Rosario said the on-base temporary shelters for teachers can also provide security as they will be located within the school campuses or nearby areas.

“For living quarters for public school teachers, I think what we should do is to push for the construction of temporary housing facilities in remote areas. Just like the construction of their classrooms, the living facilities should be integrated in the budget of DepEd (Department of Education). So in that way, it will be permanent, it will be from DepEd, and it will not require resources by other agencies. If I may suggest Mr. Chairman,” Del Rosario said.

He said this will also solve the problems on the teachers’ security since the proposed quarters will be inside school campuses. — Raymond Africa and Noel Talacay

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