DepEd opens Jan 26 early registration in public schools

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) will roll out a one-day early enrolment for incoming kinder and grade 1 students ahead of the usual summer enlistment in all public schools nationwide.

The education department has declared January 26, Saturday, as Early Registration Day in all public schools for school year 2013-2014 to ensure the enrolment of all students in public schools. But enrolment in kindergarten and grade 1 will be prioritized.

This follows the launch last year of DepEd’s K to 12 Basic Education Program, in which all 5-year old children are required to study kindergarten.

The program requires kindergarten education as a prerequisite for admission to grade 1, but DepEd has decided to admit even those without kindergarten experience “to achieve universal participation and completion of basic education of all Filipino children.”

For school year 2013-2014, those born in October 2008 or earlier shall be eligible for early enrolment in kindergarten, while those born in October 2007 or earlier, with or without kindergarten experience, shall be eligible for early enrolment in Grade 1.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that this initiative will enable the department “to make the necessary preparation and to address potential resource needs in time for the opening of classes in June.”

The early enrolment will also be open to other levels, particularly to transferees.

Incoming grades II-IV and second to fourth year students who will study in the same school need not enrol, as they will be automatically registered in the next grade or year level. For incoming first year high school students, their elementary schools will submit their names to concerned high schools.

Out-of-school youth included

DepEd will also open the early registration for other elementary and high school levels to accommodate transferees and out-of-school youth.

The department stated that they would like to guarantee that the out-of-school youth, including street children and some members of indigenous groups, will be attending school in school year 2013-2014.

Luistro said they will be provided their preferred education delivery system, which could either be through alternative delivery mode (ADM) or alternative learning system (ALS).

“We are enlisting the assistance of local and barangay officials for the early registration of the out-of-school youth,” he said. – Rappler.com