The Department of Education (DepEd) will place about 7 million learners who were unable to enroll for school year 2020 to 2021 in its alternative learning system, an education official said Thursday.

“May pagkakataon pa rin na magpatala sila kahit hanggang sa pagbubukas ng klase sa August 24, kung hindi talaga sila makapagpatala, ang amin pong kagawaran ay hahanapin po iyong mga nawawalang mag-aaral at atin pong ipapasok sa alternative learning system namin (They still have the chance to enroll until the opening of classes on August 24. If they’re unable to do so, our department will look for them and place them in our alternative system),” DepEd Undersecretary for Field Operations Revsee Escobedo said in a virtual public briefing.

Data from the department as of July 16 show that a total of 20,744,595 learners have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide for the incoming school year.

The figure represents 74.6 percent of the total number of enrollees for school year 2019 to 2020 which is 27.2 million.

Out of the total number, about 19,626,653 enrolled in public schools and 1,092,514 in private schools.

Region 4A (Calabarzon) logged the highest number of enrollees at 2,807,264, and the Cordillera Administrative Region has the lowest at 319,129.

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

Escobedo said the alternative learning system is provided to everyone who wants to study but are unable to enter the formal system of education.

“Kahit sila ay wala sa pormal na sistema ng edukasyon ay binibigyan natin ng edukasyon sila, saan man sila naroon, ano man ang kanilang komplikasyon sa pag-aaral (Even if they’re not part of the formal education system, we provide them an avenue to learn wherever they are and whatever their education complications may be),” he added. (PNA)