It was estimated that 4 million learners was not able to enroll this school year due to the pandemic, Department of Education (DepEd) said.
“Mayroon tayong extraordinary non-participation on account of COVID. As of today, that is about four million learners,” Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan stated on a Senate hearing.
“Pinag-uusapan namin ‘yan sa Department how we will address that expansion for this year of our non-participation.”
“Our main focus for now is really those who have enrolled for the opening,” he added.
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According to a data from the DepEd, 23 117 793 learners have already enrolled in private and public schools nationwide out of the targeted 27 770 263 learners who enrolled in the previous academic year.
In percentage, that is 83.18 percent of learners that enrolled compared to last academic year.
Malaluan also added, “[For] the private schools, their enrollment is about 2.8 million less than last year.”
Meanwhile, about 333 000 enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
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