TOTAL number of dropouts at Negros Oriental State University in the first semester of Academic Year 2022-2023 logged 1,539.

NORSU currently has 14,369 students or 1.96 percent lower than last school year’s number of enrollees which was at 14,657.

There were 3,069 students enrolled in Dumaguete Campus II, compared to 11,300 at Dumaguete Campus I, including 587 in Graduate School.

University registrar Reymil Cadapan highlighted that among the main causes of dropout are students’ financial preparation and capacity, as well as their ability to use technology to achieve blended learning needs.

“However, the increase or decrease will be irrelevant because there is no change in the NORSU Enrolment Capacity. The decrease will only be attributed to dropout reasons. Increase in the higher years will be attributed to shifting and returnee/transfer of campus,” Cadapan said.

Classes in the university began last August 22, while some of its colleges and departments already had a limited number of face-to-face lectures, particularly for important disciplines that call for practicum, critical fieldwork, and laboratory-based learning experiences.