Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Over 300,000 E. Visayas learners absent on first school day

PALO, Leyte, June 6 -- At least 304,297 learners in Eastern Visayas failed to show up during the first day of school, the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office here reported on Tuesday.

DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Director Ramir Uytico said only 822,970 pupils and students showed up on Monday out of the more than 1.1 million projected enrollment for school year 2017-2018.

The expected kindergarten, elementary, and high school students this year is based on the actual registration last year and estimated population increase of school children.

“I asked school officials to find out if they really transferred to another school or they just stayed home and not yet enrolled,” Uytico told reporters.

The education department will wait until Friday for the remaining students who have not reported to classes in the first few days of new school year.

Of the 822,970 learners who showed up on Monday, 60,587 of them are kindergarten, 453,196 are elementary, 241,510 are junior high school, and 67,677 are senior high school.

All 4,520 schools resumed classes on Monday except for Old Sumuroy Elementary School in Northern Samar province due to conflict between government troops and communist rebels.

“Pupils have been accommodated in New Sumuroy Elementary School, which is three kilometers away from Old Sumuroy Elementary School,” Uytico said.

To address security concerns, the DepEd regional chief asked assistance from the Philippine National Police to provide safety environment for learners. The official also asked school heads to coordinate with village officials on security concerns.

In Leyte province, excess chairs from some schools have been transported to campuses experiencing shortage.

Uytico vowed to immediately address equipment needs of senior high school (SHS) by fast tracking procurement and follow up requests from their main office.

“The implementation of SHS is not perfect with all limitations, but we are trying to solve all problems,” he added.

This year, DepEd welcome the first batch of Grade 12 enrollees under the Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education. Last year, Eastern Visayas had 56,623 Grade 11 learners.

The same number is expected to proceed to Grade 12 this year, but only 29,799 were present on Monday.(Sarwell Q. Meniano/PNA)



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