ILOILO City – How ready are students and teachers for the new school year?
The education force is more prepped now than last year, according to Director Ramir Uytico of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 6.
School year 2021-2022 opens on Monday, Sept. 13.
Public and private schools have already made adjustments and innovations this year, as they took note of the experience last year without the conduct of face-to-face classes, according to Uytico.
“Nobody was prepared for the school year (last year) kasi padalian na. Kung in-announce sana na two years magka– (coronavirus) pandemic we could have prepared,” Uytico told journalists on Friday.
“But nakita nating kahit nahirapan ‘yong paaralan, still we painted beautiful rainbows sa educational landscape in Region 6. How much more ngayon na marami nang natutunan ang ating mga guro from last year,” he added.
Uytico said parents and learners also need not worry about the learning materials as many teaching methods can be offered to the learners while they are at home.
DepEd-6 has so far prepared 4,114,108 learning materials for modular, online, educational television, radio-based instructions, or blended learning.
ENROLLEES
Meanwhile, based on the data provided by DepEd-6, there were 1,491,186 enrollees so far in public and private schools, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)/Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), Alternative Learning System (ALS), and Special Education.
“(This was) 80.1 percent of the more than two million enrollees last year,” said Dr. Leo Dedoroy, chief of Policy Planning and Research Division of DepEd-6.
Here’s the summary of enrollment for school year 2021-2022 (as of Sept. 9):
Public schools – 1,332,281
* Kinder – 88,550
* Elementary – 618,653
* Junior High School – 444,023
* Senior High School – 181,156
Private schools – 143,972
* Kinder – 7,239
* Elementary – 30,589
* Junior High School – 57,802
* Senior High School – 48,342
SUCs/LUCs – 2,008
* Kinder – eight
* Elementary – 76
* Junior High School – 1,486
* Senior High School – 438
ALS – 9,458
Special Education – 3,467
In school year 2020-2021, DepEd-6 recorded a total of 2,096,443 enrollees: public schools (1,846, 904); private schools (193,063); SUCs /LUCs (3,953); ALS (47,665); and special education (4,858).
According to Dedoroy, DepEd-6 is expecting more than two million enrollees for the upcoming school year. Enrollment can still be done this weekend and on Monday.
Dedoroy also spelled out the reasons that may have been hampering the enrollment:
* Parental involvement is limited due to enforced quarantine protocols.
Dedoroy explained that as per guidelines, parent shall be the one to fill up and submit the modified learning and survey forms to the schools.
Some parents were not able to return home, especially those working outside Region 6.
* Some parents were busy finding day-to-day income; they don’t have time to enroll their kids yet.
* Some learners were living in remote areas.
* Some working students have yet to decide where to enroll – the school near their workplace or that near their residence.
* Perception that kindergarten students can automatically move up to the next level. Parents shall fill up the modified learning and survey forms.
* “No birth certificate, no enrollment” perception
Here, Dedoroy clarified that it is possible to enroll even without a birth certificate. The schools can receive credentials until December 2021.
* Some parents wait for the class opening to enroll their children.
Meanwhile, the DepEd-6 is still waiting for any instruction from the central office on whether to extend enrollment to accommodate late enrollees./PN