As enrollment numbers dip, teachers are encouraged to go on house-to-house visits to bring students back to school, ahead of its opening on June 8.
In an interview with DZRH’s Special on Saturday, Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Joyce Andaya said that over 26 million students are expected to attend the first day of classes next week. However, Andaya emphasized that the numbers had declined in the last two years.
“Ngayong taon, tinitingnan pa natin kasi baka ang iba hindi pa nag-eenroll kaya hinihikayat natin ang mga magulang na mag-enroll. Siguro mga between 26 million to 27 million ang tinitingnan natin na mga estudyante ngayon,” she explained.
House-to-House Visits
In Metro Manila, around 2.7 million learners are expected to attend the school opening on June 8. However, Andaya reiterated that the numbers may still increase as some students have yet to enroll.
“Mayroong mga bata tayo na tinatapos muna ang isang buwan bago mag-enroll. That’s why we’re talking to our teachers and our principals na mag-bahay-bahay na tayo upang mahikayat ang ating mga magulang na papuntahin na sa klase ang mga bata kasi madami silang mami-miss na mga lesson kung hindi sila pumasok,” Andaya explained.
“Maganda kasi na pagpasok pa lang nila ng klase, handa na sila, alam na nila mga requirements…para makaka-engage na sila sa kanilang mga kaklase,” she added.
Moreover, Andaya stated that their goal is to have an ideal student-classroom and student-teacher ratio.
Nationally, there are 26 learners for one classroom in Elementary, 22 learners for one classroom in Junior High School, and 25 learners in one classroom in High School.
“Sasabihin niyo sa akin, bakit ganon? Ang sabi congested. Kasi tiningnan na natin ang lahat ng ating eskuwelahan. Pag pumunta tayo sa iba’t ibang probinsya, lalo yung sa mga malalaya na lugar, ang mga estudyante doon, wawalo lang, 10, 20. Ito yung totality,” Andaya explained.
In addition, she said that highly-urbanized areas such as Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao are highly-congested and are often affected by calamities like floods and earthquakes.
