Early registration for public school students begins

MANILA, Philippines — Public schools across the country yesterday began the month-long early registration for kindergarten and Grades 1, 7 and 11 students.

The early registration, which will run until Feb. 22, aims to ensure that all new students are registered for the incoming school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

The move will also help the department prepare for the opening of classes and determine the number of students who will enroll in public schools.

“The early registration campaign ensures the right of all school-aged learners to enroll and be equally provided with quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education,” the DepEd said.

Education Undersecretary and spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said a unit is consolidating reports and monitoring the situation on the ground. 

An initial report on the start of the early registration may be made available as early as Monday, Sevilla said.

Aside from establishing early registration desks in every school, Education Secretary Leonor Briones had earlier encouraged local education officials to undertake a house-to-house campaign to reach all school-age children in their respective communities.

In areas without schools but may have enrollees, she said a person should be designated to communicate with local officials for the purpose of conducting early registration in barangay halls, Briones said.

The  DepEd said the early registration also aims to locate out-of-school children and youth, including those who have disabilities, living in off-grid communities, displaced due to disasters and are stateless or undocumented.

“Registration of school children who were identified during child-finding activities shall be conducted by schools division offices in coordination with the local social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” it added.

In the basic education enrollment guidelines she issued last year, Briones stressed that all school-age children should have access to basic education.

“They also guarantee the right of learners to enroll in private schools and (government-funded tertiary institutions) offering basic education upon the submission of minimum documentary requirements and satisfaction of other conditions that the educational institution may require, subject to the existing laws and regulations,” she added.

Minimum documentary requirements include birth certificates and proof of completion of previous grade level for enrollees in Grade 1 and above.

If these are not available during the early registration period, parents or guardians may submit the documents until Aug. 31.