ILOILO City – The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has confirmed that all systems are operational for the start of classes in 4,057 public schools across Western Visayas today, marking the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
According to Regional Director Ramir Uytico, despite recent weather disturbances from Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon which increased water levels in several areas, no schools were adversely affected.
Hernani Escullar Jr., the information officer of DepEd Region 6, said, “We are ready, 100 percent ready. Our schools are all set for the opening of the school year despite the challenges posed by last week’s storm and localized flooding due to intense rainfall.”
As of July 24, DepEd Region 6 has registered 1,284,918 learners, distributed among public schools, private institutions, and state and local universities and colleges.
The enrollment figures for this academic year show 633,890 learners in elementary, 435,474 in junior high school, and 215,554 in senior high school.
The total includes students enrolled in 4,057 public schools, 969 private schools, and 12 local and state universities and colleges in the region.
Despite the official end of the enrollment period on July 26, Escullar noted an anticipated increase in the number of students, as enrollments typically surge in the last two days.
He emphasized that schools would continue to accept late enrollees and support parents in registering their children even after classes have begun, stating, “We assist parents in enrolling their children despite the start of classes, as we understand there may be circumstances preventing timely enrollment.”
Concerning infrastructure and resources, Escullar addressed the regional shortages, citing ongoing coordination with the DepEd Central Office.
He reported a reduction in the needed 14,206 classrooms from the last quarter of 2023, thanks to the involvement of local government units and private partners in constructing educational facilities.
Escullar also highlighted the adjustments schools are making to accommodate over-enrolled classes, such as the situation at Fort San Pedro National High School where a Grade 11 class has 81 learners.
He explained that strategies like splitting classes into batches are being implemented to ensure that all students receive the required educational standards.
The ideal learner – classroom ration are the following:
* Kindergarten – 30 learners
* Grades 1 to 3 – 35 learners
* Grades 4 to 10 – 45 learners
* Grades 11 to 13 – 40 learners
* Multigrade – 25 learners
* SPED (Special Education – 10 learners
* ALS (Alternative Learning System) – 75 learners
Last school year 2023-2024, the region recorded 2,012,930 enrollees, wherein 1,809,425 were in public schools.
The introduction of the “Matatag Curriculum”, initiated by former Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio, marks a significant shift this year. Starting in July, this curriculum, emphasizing reduced learning areas to enhance focus on core subjects like Language and Mathematics, will be implemented in phases beginning with Kindergarten, and Grades 1, 4, and 7.
Under the Matatag Curriculum, there are five learning areas (from the previous seven) – Language, Reading and Literacy, Mathematics, Makabansa, and the Good Manners and Right Conduct.
For school year 2025-2026, coverage will include Grades 2, 5 and 8; for school year 2026-2027 – Grades 3, 6 and 9; and for school year 2027-2028 are Grade 10./PN
