Basic education students to hit 27.8 million

MANILA, Philippines — The population of basic education students in the country is expected to reach a record 27.8 million this year, according to the Department of Education (DepEd). 

The number is almost three percent higher than the 2.02 million kindergarten, elementary and high school students in the previous school year. 

Education Secretary Leonor Briones yesterday said they are preparing for the opening of classes, particularly in more than 47,000 public schools that cater to a majority of the student population. 

“Given the continuously increasing population of... school children and increasing number of challenges that we have to hurdle, we are... increasing and expanding our... efforts to deliver quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education,” Briones said. 

She said the DepEd has been preparing for the opening of classes since January, when it conducted early registration of new students. 

Briones said at least five million new kindergarten as well as Grades 1, 7 and 11 students have so far registered.

Meanwhile, the private sector joined the DepEd in its annual Brigada Eskwela to prepare public schools for the opening of classes next month.

Among them are around 1,000 employees of companies of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, who participated in its Ready for School campaign in various public schools nationwide.