The Department of Education (DepEd) said today, July 8, that over 250,000 private school students transferred to public schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said that this could be attributed to the economic downturn caused by the closure or limited operations of businesses caused by quarantine.

“Nawawalan na sila ng trabaho o lumiliit na ang kanilang kita so it’s really the impact of the economy,” said Briones. According to her, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic may have resulted in lower enrollment turnout for private schools “because they charge tuition and other fees.”

She added that parents may be having a difficult time deciding whether or not they should enroll their children in private schools. “If jobs will be restored, if people will be starting to work again, then [parents] will have more confidence to enroll their students in private schools,” she said.

students who transferred from private schools to public schools — *Photo courtesy of the DepEd*

According to data from DepEd, the total number of learners who moved from private to public schools reached 250,539 composed of 148,852 elementary students, 69,851 in junior highschool, 26,138 in senior high school and 5,698 learners with disabilities. This brings the totals of public school enrollees to 17,957,202.

As of today, the total number of enrollees for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 has reached 18,871, 245 students from kindergarten to grade 12 nationwide, including non-graded learners with disabilities.

Enrollment, which is being done digitally, for SY 2020-2021 has been extended until July 15. All classes will be conducted online or through alternative learning methods as face-to-face classes are banned until a vaccine can be found. Classes are targeted to start on Aug. 24.

Header photo screengrabbed from Department of Education Oplan Balik Eskwela Press con

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