The Department of Education (DepEd) has recorded 146,637 early registrants from Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 11 in the Ilocos Region for school year 2025-2026.
At a forum on Monday, Joey Pimentel, Regional Statistician of DepEd Ilocos’ Policy, Planning, and Research Division, said the breakdown includes 30,850 Kindergarten pupils, 43,595 Grade 1 students, 35,129 in Grade 7, and 37,063 in Grade 11.
The data was gathered from 3,028 out of the 3,050 schools in the region, with 22 private schools either partially participating or not submitting their figures.
The DepEd conducted early registration from Jan. 25 to Feb. 15 so “they would know what to prepare for the next school year.”
The early registration only covered incoming Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 1, as students from other levels are automatically enrolled by their advisers.
Pimentel noted a declining trend in early registrants, which reflects the overall decrease in enrollment, attributing it to the low birth rate in the region.
Students who missed the early registration can still enroll during the official enrollment period for school year 2025-2026, he added.
Meanwhile, Johnson Sunga, Education Program Supervisor for Curriculum and Learning Management Division, assured that the region has enough teachers to meet students’ learning needs.
DepEd also confirmed that rehabilitation efforts for classrooms and school facilities damaged by last year’s weather disturbances are currently underway. (PNA)
