DepEd sets Jan. 24- Feb.27 for early registration

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday announced a month-long early registration from January 24 to February 27 for all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide for school year 2015 to 2016.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said the month-long early registration period will give the department a clear picture of the total number of expected enrollees and it will help in addressing challenges that may arise during the regular enrolment.

"Our collective aim is a smooth school opening come June, that is why we are preparing as early as January," Luistro added.

The early registration aims to ensure that all five-year-old children are enrolled in kindergarten while all six-year-old children are enrolled in Grade 1 by June.

Other targets of the early registration are out-of-school children (OSC) and out-of-school youth (OSY) from marginalized sectors, including street children ages 5 to 18.

These targeted learners will be provided with their preferred education delivery system which could either be formal through the alternative delivery mode or through the alternative learning system.

To ensure universal participation, DepEd has enlisted the assistance of local and barangay officials for the early registration of OSC, the OSY, those with difficulty in learning and the indigenous peoples.

The early registration will see DepEd working closely with local government units, the Parent-Teachers Associations, barangay officials, civil society groups, civic organizations and the business sector to ensure wide sectoral participation in the exercise of granting all learners access to education.

DepEd said that there are no fees required for the registration.

The birth certificate of the child shall be the documentary basis for early registration. If this is not available during the early registration, the document can be submitted within the school year.