DepEd welcomes 21.49M students for 2012-2013 school opening

DepEd Secretary Luistro to inspect public school in Pasig City, K+12 kicks off

By Jose Rafael Cesar Atencio

Monday 4th of June 2012

QUEZON CITY, June 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Eduction (DepEd) is all set to welcome today 21.49 million students in public schools for the opening of school year 2012-2013.

Last year, the actual enrollment for public schools was 20.48 million. Of expected enrollees this year, 5.76 million are in secondary, 14 million are elementary, and 1.73 million are kindergarten, in over 45,000 public schools nationwide.

However, other private elementary and secondary schools in Metro Manila and other places in Metro Manila are starting on different dates to accommodate more enrollees.

DepEd Communications Officer Kenneth Tirado said that DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro will check the school opening situation at the Pinagbuhatan Elementary School (PES) in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City anytime this morning.

Tirado added that the government is all set for the nationwide opening of classes as it announced the various contingency measures of agencies to ensure the safety of students.

The opening of classes this school year will be marked by the pilot implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, Deped said in a press release.

“As we implement the new K to 12 curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 this school year, we made sure that public elementary and secondary schools across the country are ready for school opening,” Luistro said.

Grade 7 is what 1st year junior high school is referred to under K to 12.

Teacher trainings for the Grade 1 and Grade 7 enhanced curriculum were conducted in different subject areas per region to develop teachers capacity for the efficient implementation of the new curriculum.

To provide the public with helpful information, the department has set up the OBE-Information and Action Center, which seeks to address problems commonly encountered during school opening.. The OBE-IAC will run until June 8 at DepEd Central and field Offices, serving as information and complaints processing mechanism for the public.

The center will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. everyday, including weekends. It can be reached at (02) 636-8641 and action@deped.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, the DOTC is spearheading the Oplan Ligtas Biyahe for those students coming back from the provinces, while MMDA has started making preparations to ensure that traffic will be manageable. (RJB/JCP/JRCA/DepEd/CHED-PIA NCR)