THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Eastern Visayas bested 16 other regions in the country in terms of the number of enrolment for the school year 2020-2021 amid the threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Based on a national enrolment tally released by the DepEd central office, DepEd-Eastern Visayas recorded a total of 1,087,074 enrolled students from June 1 to July 15, 2020.

The number represents 82.83 percent of the 1,312,447 students who were enrolled in the last school year.

"To all the parents and guardians of Eastern Visayas, salamat sa inyong trust sa DepEd 8! To all the 13 Schools Divisions, your strategies really work and this success has been achieved because of your concerted efforts. Salamat!" said DepEd-Eastern Visayas Director Dr. Ramir Uytico in a statement.

Meanwhile, Uytico said that Eastern Visayas "has navigated the new normal by installing systems which are responsive to the needs of its clientele" in the midst of the health crisis.

"The Office has installed policy guidelines for online processing of application for new positions and promotions and for the processes of the Bids and Awards Committee. These are all virtual so the Office can continue its Quality Management System which has been inspired by being the first ISO Certified DepEd Office in Visayas and Mindanao," he said.

At present, the DepEd in the region is "busy preparing for its second surveillance for its ISO Certification while engaging its men and women for the implementation of the Learning Continuity Plan for the coming school year."

"Inspired by its aspiration, quality policy, and core values, DepEd 8 continues to strive for excellence," said Uytico who assumed the post in the region in August 2016.

He reiterated that DepEd is not backing down from the scheduled opening of classes on August 24, 2020, despite calls for delaying the classes due to the pandemic.

DepEd will be introducing distance learning in three ways through printed materials, online classes, and radio/television broadcasting classes in the coming school year while considering "limited" face-to-face classes in places with low-risk Covid-19 cases.

As of July 15, 2020, DepEd recorded a total of 20, 345, 832 enrolled students nationwide, or 73.27 percent from the 27, 768, 328 actual registered students in the previous school year. (SunStar Philippines)