“Ensure the smooth opening of classes,” said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as she presided a conference attended by top Department of Education (DepEd) officials two weeks before the start of the school year on June 10.
The Chief Executive instructed them to take all the necessary steps so that the more than 20 million students nationwide will not be inconvenienced when they troop back to schools.
For the coming school year, there is a projected total enrollment of 21.66 million students, 18.81 million of which are in public schools or 87 percent and 2.85 million in the private schools.
Mrs. Arroyo also gave out checks for the P500 chalk allowance for each public school teacher.
She also instructed school officials to strictly observe the no-collection fees policy.
For his part, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus informed President Arroyo that 10,000 new classrooms have been constructed and 10,000 new teachers have been hired. He also informed the President that 97 percent of all public schools are already on a one-shift classroom use.
Of the total 21 million students, 6.66 million are secondary students, with 5.33 million in public schools or 80 percent, and 1.33 million in private schools. Those in the elementary total 13.93 million, with 12.84 million in the public schools or 92 percent, and 1.09 million in the private schools.
Some 1.06 million will enroll in the pre schools with .64 million in public schools or 60 percent and .42 million in private schools. (PIA/Bohol)
