Legazpi City (PIA) – More than one million students have enrolled for the upcoming school year in Bicol region despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic according to the Department of Education (DepEd) here on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

A total of 1,081,218 learners have enrolled in public and private schools for school year 2020 to 2021. There are at least 1,040,099 learners enrolled in public schools and 41,119 in private schools.

Mayflor Marie Jumamil, information officer of DepEd Bicol, said that at least 65,936 enrolled for kindergarten; 503,971 for elementary; 347,423 for junior high school and 141,554 for senior high school.

Moreover, at least 4,312 students with disabilities enrolled while 18,022 students enrolled for the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

She said that the education department expects the number of enrollees to increase with the extension of enrollment until July 15. For Bicol region, DepEd aims for at least 1.6 million enrollees.

“Parents can enroll their children before the deadline via Remote Enrollment (Online Enrollment) and Enrollment via Dropbox or Kiosk,” she said.

Jumamil added that there is no need to buy gadgets and internet connection because the department is adopting blended learning and the use of learning modules.

She said the DepEd Bicol is focused on preparing modules for production and reproduction by school divisions this month.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes are set to open on August 24, 2020. (DDC-PIA5)