AN estimated 397,000 elementary pupils and high school students, including senior high, in all public schools in Negros Occidental, are expected to enroll this school year 2018–2019.
Dr. Portia Mallorca, schools division superintendent of Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Occidental, said Monday, May 28, they projected an increase of 2,000 students in the enrollment this year.
Last year has 395,000 enrollees.
Mallorca said there were students who were already included in the early registration but will only be confirmed based on their attendance on the first day of classes which is on June 4.
As this developed, Mallorca said 100 percent of all schools in the province participated in this year’s Brigada Eskwela which kicked off nationwide yesterday, May 28.
Themed "Pagkakaisa para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan,” the 2018 edition of Brigada Eskwela will end on June 2.
A total of 673 schools in the province joined the activity, except for schools in the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay, as they have separate divisions.
There are 498 schools in elementary; 93 secondary junior; and 82 secondary senior high schools participated in the activity that promotes volunteerism among various partners, stakeholders, and the community.
The province-wide launching was done at E.B. Magalona National High School and Binalbagan National High School, representing the northern and southern schools, respectively.
Schools in other areas like in the municipalities of La Castellana, Pontevedra, and Binalbagan already started the Brigada Eskwela prior to its official launching.
DepEd-Bacolod schools division Superintendent Cynthia Demavivas said all schools in Bacolod City joined the activity that was launched at Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Tangub.
Part of the activity was the cleanup, repair of chairs, tables and blackboards, painting, and other innovations in preparation for the classroom set-up environment when classes start next week.
Also part of the activity was Oplan Balik Eskwela, wherein late enrollees will still be accepted even if classes already started.
Meanwhile, Mallorca reminded teachers that there will be no more cleaning on the first day of classes.
"All students should be inside the classrooms while teachers start their lessons," she added.