Dep-Ed Baguio rues drop in enrollment, calls for enrollees

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- As every learner is entitled to accessible education, interested pupils and student may still enroll in schools to catch up with their lessons and finish schoolyear 2020-2021.
    This was the announcement given by OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS) Christopher Benigno during city hall flag raising ceremonies.
    “We are searching for those who have not enrolled due to various reasons, to take on the challenges of learning during these pandemic times,” he said. We have supportive stakeholders to the cause of education, specially from the local government of Baguio headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and the city council, Benigno further said.
    Data as of Nov. 2, 2020 show that for school year 2020-2021, 36,695 have enrolled in the city’s public elementary schools; 22,791 in Grade 7 to 10 or junior high school; and 4,338 in Grade 11 to 12 or Senior high school.
    Baguio private schools have 7,903 elementary pupils, 6,176 junior high students and 7,441 senior high students. Enrolled Alternative Learning Students (ALS) are 1,198.
    The congregated total for public and private schools is 86,542, with a difference of 7,479 pupils and students from last year’s total enrolment of 94,021, Benigno said.
    As to data on movement of learners, 3,527 moved from private to public schools within Baguio, while 554 learners moved from private to schools outside of Baguio.
    There are also 483 public school learners who moved to private schools within the city, while 108 learners have moved to private schools outside of Baguio. Public to public school transferees within the city number to 5,775; while 1,026 public school learners have transferred to other public schools outside of Baguio.
    For school year 2019-2020, there are 508 drop-outs, 519 repeaters in the same grade with three or more failed subjects, and 493 who did not enroll. Reasons given for non-enrolment are: the Covid-19 pandemic, lack of interest, financial constraints, no assistance given, parent’s decisions, change of residence, health condition, family problem and early parenthood, Benigno further said.
    It was also reported that within the city’s educational system, there are 409 learners with special needs, with 278 males and 131 females. A progress of 92.05% for the special learners was posted.
    Due to difficulties this pandemic, there are 6 temporarily closed schools in the city: D’Hundred Times Academy,Inc.; Fame Golf Mission School, Inc.; PMAOSFI Golden Heart Pre-School; JMC Christian Academy, Inc.; Learning by the Hillside, Inc.; Baguio City First Learning Center, Inc.
    There are also 7 permanently closed schools: Maurice Lex Learning Center, Inc.; Palm Springs Montessori Integrated School, Inc.; Poliwes Community Church Learning Center; Sontown Intl Christian Academy, St. Francis De Sales-Learning Resource Center, Westmont School Montessori, Yale IL International School and John Hay Elementary School. – With reports from the Baguio Dep-Ed