ILOILO City – A surge in early school registration across Western Visayas is prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 to accelerate preparations for additional classrooms, teacher deployment, and learning materials ahead of School Year (SY) 2026–2027.
As of 6 p.m. on Feb. 24, regional data show 170,200 learners have registered early — already surpassing last year’s 163,316 during the same period and translating to a 105.44-percent accomplishment rate. Data validation and updating will continue until Feb. 27.
While the numbers reflect strong participation, education officials said the real challenge now lies in ensuring schools are fully equipped to absorb the influx of learners without overcrowding classrooms or stretching teaching resources thin.
All 3,032 public schools across Western Visayas participated in the early registration activity, achieving 100 percent compliance in report submission.
Among the Schools Division Offices (SDOs), Iloilo City recorded the highest growth at 126.80 percent compared to last year’s early registration figures. Guimaras followed at 108.75 percent, Iloilo province at 106.30 percent, Capiz at 105.90 percent, and Aklan at 100.92 percent.
Antique reached 97.94 percent, Roxas City logged 98.89 percent, and Passi City recorded 92.62 percent relative to their previous totals.
By grade level, the region tallied 31,208 kindergarten enrollees, 48,694 in Grade 1, 46,815 in Grade 7, and 45,483 in Grade 11 — key entry levels that heavily influence classroom allocation and teacher assignments.
Iloilo province accounted for the largest share of early registrants with 79,869 learners, followed by Capiz with 27,509 and Antique with 23,586. Iloilo City registered 12,338 learners.
DepEd Region 6 said early registration enables schools to project requirements for classrooms, teachers, and learning materials using data generated through the Learner Information System, in line with implementing guidelines on the school calendar and revised enrollment policies.
With more than 170,000 learners already in the system weeks before validation closes, the focus now shifts from counting enrollees to ensuring that every classroom is ready when the new academic year begins./PN
