MANILA – With enrollment for public schools proceeding on June 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) has laid out a system to reduce the need for physical enrollment.
In a statement, the DepEd said the implementation of remote enrollment shall take into consideration the resource inequalities and differing circumstances that exist among learners and teachers.
It added that enrollment information will be collected through a system that is most convenient between teachers and parents such as phone calls, text messaging or online submission.
“In keeping with strict physical distancing measures, enrollment for school year 2020 to 2021 shall primarily be administered remotely,” the DepEd said. “Physical enrollment in schools or other similar activity shall be highly discouraged, even in low risk areas.”
For continuing students in Grades 1 to 12, teachers will contact the parents or guardians of their advisory class in the previous school year to collect enrollment data. Parents may also reach out to their child’s adviser from last year.
The teachers will also collect information regarding household capacity and access to distance learning of the students.
“New data shall be collected this school year to capture information that will be relevant in assessing the capacity of the basic education system, and the appropriate targeting of learners, for the continuing delivery of learning in the context of constraints and opportunities presented by the physical distancing measures,” it noted.
Meanwhile, if a student plans to transfer from one school to another, the parents or guardians should coordinate with the receiving school through its published enrollment contact details.
Parents of incoming kindergarten students shall communicate their intent to enroll their children through the digital or physical enrollment platforms established by schools.
Balik-Aral enrollees, or those who intend to resume their education after dropping out in previous years, shall directly contact their preferred schools, which will register their enrollment and survey data.
Prospective students of the Alternative Learning System may communicate their intent to enroll through digital or physical enrollment platforms established by schools and barangays with community learning centers.
If ever parents or guardians are not able to submit enrollment data through the established remote platforms, schools may set up physical platforms such as kiosks or booths in coordination with the local government unit.
“Physical submission of enrollment data shall be done only in the third week of the enrollment period. The first two weeks shall completely be remote enrollment, where there will absolutely be no face-to-face,” it added.
According to DepEd, the deadline for submission of documentary requirements shall be deferred until December 2020 for both public and private schools.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the schools to accept installment-form tuition payment from students as he also suggested the parents to tap the Land Bank of the Philippines to help parents “who have nothing to come up with” for tuition fee payment.
“‘Yung tuition ho sana, I hope that you’d allow staggered payment or installments lang po sa mga iskwelahan,” President Duterte said in an address to the public on Thursday night.
“For those who have really nothing to come up to sa bayaran, we have the Landbank and kindly listen to the rules kasi itong Landbank bubuksan namin and you can borrow money to finance the education of your children,” he added.
The Landbank has earlier announced a new lending program, LANDBANK ACADEME (ACcess to Academic Development to Empower the Masses towards Endless Opportunities), to boost the capacity of private schools and universities in implementing a “study now, pay later” scheme for students.
The state-run bank said it allotted a total program fund of P3 billion in credit support for private high schools, private technical and vocational education training institutions, as well as colleges and universities./PN
