THE total number of enrollment for School Year 2022 to 2023 is lower than that of the previous school year, data from the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Negros Occidental showed.
The division reported 271,771 enrollees this school opening compared to 336, 970 last year.
Data also showed that enrollment went down in all levels except for public senior high school.
Public elementary schools decreased by 76.25 percent, public junior high schools by 81.93 percent; integrated schools by 74.27 percent; and private schools by 76.78 percent.
But for public senior high school, it went up by 101.57 percent.
All 580 schools under the division are ready to start the school year in August 22, DepEd-Division of Negros Occidental Spokesperson Ian Arnold Arnaez said.
Arnaiz said schools will definitely open on August 22 following the schemes suggested by DepEd National Office whether via limited face-to-face classes, or blended learning on October 31.
He, however, said that schools that have been heavily affected by typhoons and have more damaged facilities "will have to continue with remote learning."
Data from the DepEd-Division of Negros Occidental further showed that as of August 16, 2022, public schools had the most number of enrollees for School Year 2022 to 2023 with 133, 377 students.
For public junior high school there are 82, 410 enrollees; public senior high school - 36, 254; integrated schools - 1,440; and private schools- 18, 290, it added.