Enrolment for pre-school, Grade 1 starts

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of children aged five and six years old with their parents trooped to the various public schools in Cebu City yesterday for their enrolment to kindergarten and Grade 1, five months ahead of the opening of classes in June.

Parents hurriedly enlisted their children because the teachers said the Department of Education (DepEd) will no longer conduct another registration of pupils for kinder and Grade 1.

Although yesterday was a Saturday, some public school teachers were required to report to their respective schools to enroll the incoming kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils, and even first year high school students.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro announced that early pre-enrollment being conducted nationwide starting yesterday for the education officials to know the problems and to look for some possible solutions.

Cebu City DepEd division superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud was happy when she learned that the parents had responded to the call to have their children enrolled this early.

Those children who were born on or before October 31, 2006 shall be eligible for early enrolment in kindergarten, while those born on or before October 31, 2005 with or without kindergarten experience shall be also eligible for Grade 1.

DepEd regional director Ricaredo Borgonia said education officials also accepted for pre-enrolment to first year high school those who are presently enrolled in grade VI, or those who have finished elementary in the previous years, including those who dropped out from the secondary freshman.

According to Borgonia, after the pre-enrolment of students for kindergarten, Grade 1 and first year in high school, the top education officials would meet to discuss the possible problems and their solutions.

“Gituyo man gud kini nga sayohon ang enrolment para kapangitaan daan og sulbad kun dunay problema sama sa kakuwang og classroom, maestra ug ubang problema dili sama sa una nga anha na sa pagsugod sa klase mahibaw-i,” he said.

The usual problems during the opening of classes are the lack of classrooms and teachers.

Angtud yesterday monitored the pre-enrolment in public schools in barangays Mabolo, Luz, Talamban, Binaliw, Busay and Lahug and observed that the parents were very eager to enroll their children.

Perlita Moreno, who enrolled her six-year-old daughter to Grade 1 in Lahug Elementary School, said each child is required to appear before the teachers during the registration because they are asked questions to test their intelligence on the fields of mathematics and other topics to determine what sections they will be assigned. Smart children for Grade 1 will be accepted to the Science Class. Luistro earlier said that with the early enrolment, DepEd will be given enough time to come up with education interventions and prevent students from dropping out of school.

The figure on how many children were enrolled yesterday is expected to be known next month.   (FREEMAN NEWS)