Group predicts only 50% enrollment in private schools for School Year 2020-2021
MANILA, Philippines — The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), an umbrella organization of private schools, on Wednesday projected that private schools will reach only half of last year's enrollment rates for School Year 2020-2021.
"I think enrollment this year will only reach 50% [of last year's figures]," COCOPEA Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada told DZMM Teleradyo in Filipino.
According to Estrada, around 400,000 private school students have transferred to public schools as of August 27.
Latest data from the Department of Education shows that only about 2 million students have enrolled in private schools so far, compared to the 4.3 million from last school year.
According to the department, this means private schools have reached only 47% of last year's enrollment figures.
DepEd also reported that 748 of the 14,435 private schools nationwide have given notice that they will not operate for the incoming school year.
The Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA) on Wednesday argued that enrollment could improve if the October 5 opening would be delayed.
"[Students] will return to private school because not everyone wants to [stop] schooling, not everyone wants to go to public school," FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag told DZMM Teleradyo in Filipino.
Late enrollment allowed until November
While Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday renewed her claim that schools across the country are ready to open on October 5, the department said schools would be allowed to accept students who enroll within the first month of classes.
"They will be allowed until November, the late enrollees," Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo said during a virtual briefing.
Briones added that late enrollees would be accepted as long as they meet 80% of the prescribed number of school days.
As it stands, the incoming school year will last for 200 days, the minimum duration required by law, with DepEd last month announcing that classes would open on October 5 and close on June 16, 2021.
As of September 9, the total number of enrollment is 24.3 million, according to DepEd, as compared to the 27.7 million from last year.
While enrollment in private schools dramatically decreased, the agency said public schools saw 98% of its enrollment rates from the year before.
In total, DepEd's data shows that enrollment for the incoming school year is at 87.5% of last year's numbers.
Due to the pandemic, classes this school year will be conducted through distance learning modalities such as online learning, modules, television and radio.
While public schools are set to reopen on October 5, private schools and non-DepEd-schools were allowed to open earlier at their discretion. — Bella Perez-Rubio
Follow this thread for updates on when classes will resume, and how those classes will be conducted.
Photo: Students wearing protective face masks have their temperatures taken while entering their college campus in Manila on January 31, 2020. AFP/Ted Aljibe
DepEd says School Year 2022-2023 "shall open on Monday, August 22, 2022, and shall end on July 7, 2023. It shall consist of 203 school days or as may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances."
Sen. Nancy Binay calls on the Commission on Higher Education and the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 not to "burden" students over requirements for face-to-face classes.
Higher educations students are being required to present medical insurance and other documents before participating in face-to-face classes.
“This is a cumbersome and unnecessary requirement para sa college students, considering that by law, all Filipinos are automatic members of PhilHealth. Sa totoo lang, 'di kailangang dagdagan ang proseso, dapat nga mas simplehan pa,” Binay says.
The Department of Education announces that it will increase the number of participating schools in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
"The expansion of the number of pilot schools will allow a greater degree of experience among all our regions that will serve us well for the expanded phase of face-to-face classes," DepEd says.
With the approval of the Office of the President, the Department of Education is announcing that it will increase the number of participating schools in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) November 11, 2021
Read: https://t.co/cCqC91kZPw pic.twitter.com/Us3GvFxp1F
COVID-19 immunization has started for tertiary students in Ilocos Norte as part of the massive vaccination campaign of the Commission on Higher Education.
This in preparation for the reopening of in-person tertiary classes, CHED-Regional Office 1 said as a ceremonial vaccination of students at Mariano Marcos State University was held on Monday in collaboration with the Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, the provincial government and Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center.
About 800 students are expected to be inoculated through the CHED immunization drive.
Prior to this, MMSU had already vaccinated 75% of its student population. — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao
President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized limited face-to-face classes for the following programs:
- Engineering and Technology programs
- Hospitality/ Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Tourism/ Travel Management
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transportation
Commission on Higher Education Chairman Popoy De Vera, who made the announcement, said the authorization applies to "degree programs that require hands-on experience in higher education institutions under Modified General Community Quarantine."
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