The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division in Antique has advised parents to enroll their children through online or by texting.

DepEd Antique Division Superintendent, Dr. Felisa Beriong, in an interview Tuesday, said they will adhere to the DepEd Memorandum Circular Order Number 2020-008 that prohibits face-to-face enrollment as the first day of enrollment commences in all public schools in the province on Monday.

“DepEd cannot yet hold face-to-face enrollment for the first two weeks so parents are advised to enroll their children online,” she said.

Parents who cannot enroll their children online could also text former teachers of their children that they are enrolling their children to the next grade level this school year, Beriong added.

“I have asked school principals or school heads to post in different conspicuous places contact numbers of their teachers so that the parents could contact them for their enrollment,” she said.

She added that parents can also get enrollment forms in barangay halls.

“Parents will fill up the enrollment forms, which they could submit to teachers on June 15 when face-to-face transactions would already be allowed,” she said.

Joel Sermeno, an uncle of a Grade 2 pupil at Sibalom Central School, in a separate interview on Monday, said that it only took him 10 minutes to enroll his nephew online.

He said that he only filled out some personal details of his nephew like his name, age, and grade level. “The online enrollment program was also user-friendly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adelaida Lopez, owner of a private Christian school Barley Learning Center in Sibalom, said they will adhere to the no face-to-face enrollment order until June 15.

“We are starting our enrollment also June 1, but it will be done online,” she said.

She said that parents may also come to their school on June 15 as long as they observe safe physical distancing and wear face masks. (PNA)

Photo Source: PNA/Annabel J. Petinglay