The DEPARTMENT of Education has registered 16 million students for School Year 2021-2022 as of September 3.

Data released by the agency showed a total of 16,038,442 enrollees combined for both private and public schools.

“Batay sa huling datos ng enrollment ngayong araw (Setyembre 3), umabot na sa kabuuang bilang na 16,038,442 ang mga nakapagpatalang mag-aaral na papasok sa Kindergarten hanggang Grade 12  sa mga pampubliko at pribadong paaralan sa buong bansa,” DepEd said.

DepEd listed 10,794,716 enrolled in public schools, 671,660 in private learning institutions, and 14,739 in state and local universities and colleges.

There were 4,557,327 Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7 and 11 learners who enrolled in the early registration held from March to May.

The region with the most enrollees is Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with 2,481,554, followed by Central Luzon at 1,591,509, and National Capital Region with 1,577,155.

The Cordillera Administrative Region, on the other hand, recorded the lowest number of enrollees at 324,168.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said the agency hoped to match last year’s figure of 26 million students.

The enrollment period in public schools started on August 16 and will end on September 13.