The Department of Education (DepEd) reported on Monday that 88.80 percent of target learners have enrolled for the incoming school year, which will open on Oct. 5.

According to data from the DepEd, as of Monday, a total of 24,661,768 learners have enrolled nationwide out of the targeted 27,770,263 learners who enrolled in the previous academic year.

Of the total number, about 22,460,996 learners enrolled in public schools and some 2,148,030 in private schools.

Region 4-A (Calabarzon) logged the highest number of enrollees with 3,402,557 while the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the lowest with 397,612.

The number of private school students who transferred to public schools stood at 398,981.

Of the total number of transferees, some 244,139 are elementary students, 106,160 are junior high school students, 42,085 are senior high school students, and 6,597 are learners with disabilities.

The enrollees were from kindergarten to senior high school, as well as learners with disabilities and those taking the alternative system.

Enrollment data accuracy

In a virtual media forum, DepEd Undersecretary for Planning Jesus Mateo stressed the credibility of the department’s enrollment data, which he said are reported by regional offices and schools division offices.

“This is accurate because this came from our field offices,” Mateo said.

Earlier, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada requested the department to clarify its enrollment data, specifically the number of transferees from private to public schools.

Estrada noted that the number of transferees is already 20 percent of the current enrollment in private schools which is considered huge as enrollment in private schools is down by 50 percent. (PNA)