WESTERN VISAYAS — As the 2024-2025 academic year kicked off on Monday, schools across Western Visayas welcomed a total of 1,409,134 learners from basic elementary education to senior high school.
According to Philippines News Agency, the information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas, this year's initial enrollment figures represent only about 70 percent of last year's total, which stood at 2,012,930. The current enrollment includes 705,602 elementary students, 468,086 junior high school students, and 235,446 senior high school students. Escullar noted that these figures, current as of July 26, include enrollments across public schools, private institutions, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges, with the encoding process still ongoing.
Despite the apparent drop in enrollment, the reasons for which remain unclear, DepEd officials continue to encourage parents to register their children. They speculate that changes in residence might account for some of the decrease. Escullar emphasized the department's commitment to inclusive education, stating, "Our policy is that no child will be left behind, so anyone who is supposed to be enrolled in basic education should be in school." He expressed optimism that the final enrollment numbers would stabilize in the coming months.
The school year commenced without any major incidents, with smooth class openings reported across the region. To ensure the safety of the students, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, the regional director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6), mentioned that over 2,000 officers have been deployed as part of the "Balik Eskwela" security program, aimed at providing a safe environment for the influx of students, particularly new enrollees and their parents.
Wanky also encouraged students to remain vigilant and proactive in seeking assistance, reminding them that police help desks are readily available for any concerns or emergencies they might encounter.