BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Much fewer students enrolled in private schools in Negros Occidental for the reopening of classes this year.
Data from the Negros Occidental Schools Division showed this year’s enrollment at 12,034 – 56 percent lower compared to 28,800 last year or a difference of 16,866.
In private schools for school year 2020-2021, enrollment in kindergarten was at 597; elementary, 1,989; junior high school, 7,348; senior high school, 2,099; and learner with disabilities, one, the data said.
Some private schools in the province began classes as early as Aug. 24 while others are set to open on Oct. 5.
Comparatively, enrollment in public schools in the province was barely affected with enrollment down by just less than one percent.
Less than a week before the school year opens on Oct. 5, enrollment in public schools in the province was 303,218 students this year compared to last school year’s 322,346.
Public schools enrollment for kindergarten as of Monday was 21,835; elementary, 155,277; junior high school, 94,463; senior high school, 30,843; and learners with disabilities, 800, data from the Department of Education (DepEd).
There are 826 schools under the Negros Occidental schools divisions of which 139 are private and 687 are public.
Richard Martinez, planning officer of the division, said the drop in the enrollment in private schools is probably due to the fact that the teaching modalities they are offering are the same as in public schools.
The DepEd alternative learning modalities include modular, television and radio-based instruction, and online.
Ian Arnold Arnaez, Negros Occidental schools division public information officer, said majority of students have opted for modular distance learning.
Modular distance learning is in the form of individualized instruction that allows learners to use self-learning modules in print or digital format/electronic copy./PN
