AROUND 3.7 million students have yet to enroll for the 2020-21 school year just two weeks before the formal opening of classes.

As per the data released by the Department of Education, enrollment in both public and private schools has reached 24.5 million or 88.24 percent compared to last year’s figures.

Around 22.35 million public school students make up 99.01 percent of the previous school year’s enrollment, while in private schools, 2.11 million or 48.90 percent of students have enrolled.

In a statement, the education department said it is still anticipating an increase in enrollment figures as reports continue to come in.

Recently, the department announced it will still accommodate late enrollees until November as stated in DepEd Order No. 003, series of 2018.

Around 865 private schools are likely to stop operations before the school year reopens due to lack of enrollees.