The Department of Education (DepEd) is “ready’ to welcome 1,504,109 learners enrolled in 4,048 public schools in Western Visayas as classes for School Year 2023-2024 officially begin on Tuesday. ‘All preparations have been done to ensure that when they go back they will no longer have to clean their rooms or arrange chairs. All they have to do is sit down and listen to their teachers. The first day of school will be the first day of classes for our learners,’ DepEd information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said in a phone interview on Monday. Including those enrolled in private schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs), DepEd has accounted for 1,689,961 learners who will be trooping to various schools on Tuesday. They consisted of 896,962 learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6; 511,601 for Grades 7 to 10; 142,126 for Grade 11; and 139,272 for Grade 12. However, he said the enrolled learners in public schools are lower by 397,525 or around 19 percent based on their last quick count as of 8 a.m. of Aug. 26. ‘This number will increase as the encoding for their latest enrollees on Saturday continues. What is important here is that all children who are supposed to get basic education can already enter their classes,’ Escullar added. The information officer said schools will also continue to accept enrollees even if, technically, the enrolment period ended on Aug. 26. Meanwhile, DepEd Regional Director Ramir Uytico signed Regional Memorandum Order 637 dated Aug. 24, 2023, providing guidelines to ensure the smooth opening of classes and safe return of learners to school, Escullar said. These included seeking assistance from law enforcement entities to ensure peace and order within the vicinity of the school, only healthy and nutritious food and beverages will be made available to learners, and the provision of necessary medical assistance and interventions to learners showing signs and symptoms of sickness. Further, learners have to be protected from abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying, and other forms of abuse. ‘We have Balik Eskwela help desk to respond and provide the necessary interventions,’ he said
Source: Philippines News Agency
