Over 300,000 students transferred from private to public schools — DepEd

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23) — More than 300,000 students from private schools have transferred to public schools for academic year 2020 to 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said.

According to Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio, less than 30% of students in private schools have enrolled for the coming school year.

“Ang sabi po sa amin ng field officials namin, traditionally ang private schools, nahuhuli mag full blast ng enrollment,” San Antonio told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon on Thursday.

[Translation: Our field officials said that enrollment in private schools traditionally see a rise in the last stretch.]

He added that as of Thursday, the total rate of enrollment has reached 78.9 percent, reaching the department’s goal of 80 percent for this school year.

San Antonio said that DepEd is keen on pushing through with the August 24 opening of classes.

“There will be psychosocial first aid for students and teachers before classes start,” he said.

READ: School year 2020-21 to formally begin on August 24, says DepEd chief