ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro expressed deep concern over the big decrease in the number of enrollees for School Year 2023-2024.

“It is truly disheartening to see that instead of an increase in the number of students as we transition back to normalcy, we are witnessing a drastic drop of over three million enrollees,” Castro said.

Historically, student enrollment in the Philippines has been increasing by 2 percent every year.

The decline in enrollment occurred only during the SY 2020-2021 due to the pandemic, but it showed signs of recovery in the next school year.

“As it is, the Philippine education system not only faces the challenge of learning loss but also the loss of three million learners. We must delve into the causes of this issue and conduct a thorough investigation,” Castro said.

The lawmaker urged the Department of Education to prioritize addressing the barriers that hinder students from enrolling, such as lack of access to technology, economic constraints, and safety concerns.

She also asked DepEd to collaborate with other government agencies, local government units, and educational institutions in the implementation of effective strategies that will encourage parents and guardians to enroll their children.

“We cannot afford to allow this trend to continue. The government must take immediate action to ensure that every Filipino child has equal access to quality education,” the lawmaker added.