Over 250, 000 private school students transferred to public schools following income loss and economic insecurity among families during the pandemic.
During the Oplan Balik Eskwela and Brigada Eskwela virtual press conference on Wednesday, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones assured that the Department of Education (DepEd) can accommodate all the migrating students as they expected it already.
Data obtained by BusinessMirror showed that a total of 250, 539 students from private schools have enrolled in public schools nationwide.
Of the number, 148, 852 are elementary pupils; 69, 851, Junior High School; 26, 138, Senior High School; and 5, 698 learners with disability.
Undersecretary Jesus Mateo said that it was mentioned earlier by Briones, “the economy was affected not only here but also abroad.”
“Overseas Filipino Workers were affected and most of them have children enrolled in private schools,” Mateo told BusinessMirror.
Enrollees
The DepEd is expecting 27.7 million students to enroll this coming school year.
As of 8 a.m. of July 8, a total of 18,871,245 learners were enrolled in both private and public schools for School Year 2020-2021.
Of the number, 894,161 have enrolled in private schools.
Based on the presentation of Mateo, the highest number of enrollees were recorded in Calabarzon with 2,553,471; Central Luzon followed with 2,022,226; and National Capital Region with 1,995,087.
World Vision’s massive educational fund drive
Meanwhile, Briones lauded the World Vision’s initiative to assist DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) through a fund raising drive.
On June 30, World Vision launched the massive educational fund drive “Abutin Na10” , aimed to fund the reproduction of self-learning materials and gadgets to help thousands of students facing the new school year yet challenged by the Covid-19 crisis.
World Vision’s Education Technical Program Manager Geomel Jetonzo explained that Abutin Na10 is a platform for education champions to contribute solutions in delivering quality education to learners.
Jetonzo encouraged that every concerned Filipino can contribute. It’s as simple as giving 10 pesos a day for 10 days, or just donating at least 100 pesos would go a long way.
The education chief asserts that “education must continue” with or without the threat of the Covid-19 because it “is perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave our learners and our children.”
“The health emergency has affected so many lives around the world, and has damaged our education curriculum, class schedules and overturned the system of delivering learning to children,” Briones said.
As learning continues, Briones also underscored to ensure that “the health, safety and well-being of learners, teachers and personnel are protected.” The Abutin Na10 campaign hopes to bridge a gap by enabling distance learning and home schooling modalities.
“We hope we can come together and do the things we thought can never be accomplished, and let us support the implementation of the country’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for our children through “Abutin Na10”,” added DepEd Undersecretary Atty. Tonisito M.C. Umali.
World Vision chairperson and former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno said that the vision of “Abutin Na10” is long term as the partnership seeks to contribute enduring solutions to the current gaps in education in the country.
In his keynote message, CJ Puno revealed an alarming reality to most families who have become more vulnerable due to the pandemic. From a rapid assessment conducted by World Vision, some parents are compelled to consider drastic measures like sending children to work or away from home that could possibly compromise their well-being including their education and protection.
“Let us therefore help the state, represented by the Department of Education, to discharge its constitutional duty to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and also to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all,” the former chief magistrate said.
“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to help our vulnerable children finish their education,” Puno added.
Show of support
Briones said that such support from private sector will cast away the doubt if indeed the DepEd “can do it”- handle the new education landscape.
Also those who expressed support for the drive include: My Pope Philippines Magazine, One Network Bank, Texas Instruments, LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation, San Miguel Foundation, Museo Pambata, Department of Transportation, Land Bank of the Philippines, DepEd Schools Division Office of Las Piñas City led by its Superintendent Dr. Joel Torrecampo, San Antonio High School of Parañaque City led by its Principal Dr. Maria Rhodora P. Espino, Reading Association of the Philippines, Education Network Philippines, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Psychological Association of the Philippines, and Asian Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation.
Director Vinci Beltran of the Office of the President of the Philippines – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), who gave her message of supoort, encouraged the advocates of the campaign to embody the values of unity, generosity and faith to be able to serve the needs of learners.
Beltran added that with the honor of being part of the “Abutin Na10” campaign comes the challenge, and “as a humble personal contribution, I pledge to use and maximize the platform provided by our work at the PCOO and become the voice for the most vulnerable children and youth.”
Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar of the Philippine National Police (PNP) also sent his solidarity message.
“I have faith and confidence to the officers, staff, partners and donors of World Vision on this program,” said Eleazar.
Image credits: AP/Aaon Favila
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