The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday that 2,571,170 learners have already preregistered nationwide for school year 2021-2022.

In an infographic released by the DepEd, 978,300 learners were enrolled in Grade 1; 566,374 in Kindergarten; 551,281 in Grade 7; and 475,215 in Grade 11, as of April 25.

Figures also showed the highest preregistration record in Region 4-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), with 257,849 learners.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones earlier urged parents to avoid long lines and preregister their kids immediately for them to come up with adequate data needed for efficient planning and preparation for blended learning.

The DepEd’s target early registrants is over 7.35 million. Some 28,674,298 million Kinder to Grade 12 (K-12) enrollees are eyed for the next school year.

Meanwhile, the DepEd has also recorded 25,786 participating schools in the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes, 25,122 of which are public schools, while the remaining 664 others are private schools.

In another statement, the department said they have also updated their School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT), which now focuses on school operations management, teaching and learning focus, well-being and protection, and school-community coordination.

“We ensure that the health, safety, and well-being of our learners, teachers, and personnel remain our utmost priority. Our revised SSAT will help the Department mobilize the progressive expansion of our face-to-face classes in areas under Alert 1 and 2,” Briones said. (PNA)