Two days after the opening of classes, about nine percent of learners in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) are not yet enrolled, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) to open its doors to unregistered schoolchildren.

As of Wednesday morning, 1.91 million learners have already signed up for the new school year or 91.53 percent of the 1.3 million registered in the past academic year.

“So far, there has been no discussion to extend the enrollment, but we cannot stop anyone from coming to school after Aug. 22. In the past two days, there are still late enrollees,” said DepEd 8 (Eastern Visayas) information officer Jazmin Calzita in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The education department earlier set Aug. 22, the first day of classes, as the deadline for this school year’s enrollment.

The region’s 4,473 schools have the option of in-person classes, blended learning modality, and total distance learning until Oct. 31 this year.

Starting Nov. 2, all public and private schools will have to transition to five days of face-to-face classes.

“During the first week of classes, our focus is the provision of psychosocial support. We prioritize the promotion and protection of the mental health and general welfare of our personnel and learners, especially amidst the challenges we face due to the crisis,” Calzita said.

The education department encourages more parents, legal guardians, and learners to register as the agency will still accept late enrollees in accordance with Department Order No. 3, series of 2018 on the Basic Education Enrollment Policy.

The policy upholds the right of learners to enroll in public schools upon presentation of minimum documentary requirements. (PNA)