The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reported that 13,752,109 learners have already enrolled in public and private schools nationwide for Academic Year 2020-2021.

Of the total number of enrollees, about 13,249,306 enrolled in public schools and 491,980 enrolled in private schools.

“Ito ay kalahati na sa ine-expect natin na mag-enroll for this school year. Sabihin natin bakit kalahati lang naka-enroll, online ang enrollment natin for the first two weeks, ngayon, dropbox ang ginagamit sa mga bayan na walang Internet connectivity (This [number] is half of our expected enrollees for this school year. Say this is just half because our enrollment is online for the first two weeks and dropboxes are used in places without Internet connectivity),” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a public briefing.

Briones said enrollment in private schools might start to increase by July.

“May mga private schools nga na sa August pa magsisimula sa enrollment dahil sumasabay sila sa private universities and colleges (Some private schools will even start their enrollment in August along with other private universities and colleges),” she added.

The latest enrollment figures, Briones said, only shows that many parents are serious about putting their children to school as they go to work, considering that some sectors of the economy are being opened.

Apart from performing their enrollment duties, the DepEd said teachers are busy with the training on the proper use of the department’s online facilities for the delivery of learning.

“More than 300,000 teachers na ang na-te-train. May mga inumpisahan nang upskilling sa National Educators Academy of the Philippines (More than 300,000 teachers have been trained. Some [teachers have undergone] upskilling in the National Educators Academy of the Philippines), Briones said. (PNA)