SURPASSING last year’s enrollment turnout is the best news so far for School Year  2021-2022, according to the Department of Education.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the agency is very excited and very happy because of the higher enrollment figures this year amid the challenges brought by the pandemic.

“Nakakatuwa at masayang-masaya kami sa Department of Education dahil sa taong ito, nakita namin na mas marami ang challenges na hinaharap natin sa departamento, kasi nandoon na iyong ibang variant na lumalabas pero, ang magandang balita ay nalampasan natin ang enrollment last year,” Briones said during a public briefing last September 17.

Briones stressed exceeding the previous year’s enrollment showed the trust given by the public and the citizens to the department.

“The parents consider education as very important and crucial for the lives of their children. In spite of all the threats and all the noise, the parents still sent their children under our care,” she said.

Meanwhile, Briones attributed the success of school opening to the thorough preparations made by the department.

She noted telling the truth and giving out all the information that was available on school opening were among the factors for this year’s success.

The Education chief also cited the efforts at economic recovery which helped increase enrollment, especially in private schools.

“Ito lahat, magagandang mga bagay na nag-contribute sa ating increase in enrollment this year at tayong lahat ay tuwang-tuwa talaga,” Briones said.

As of September 17, DepEd’s Learner Information System Quick Counts logged 27,583,701 enrollees for SY 2021-2022 or about 105.2 percent of the 26.2 million recorded last school year.