More than 12.6 million learners have enrolled for School Year 2021-2022, the Department of Education said on Tuesday.

Data released by the DepEd showed that there were a total of 12,697,558 enrollees for basic education in private and public schools.

“Batay sa huling datos ng enrollment ngayong araw, Agosto 31, 2021, 2 AM, umabot na sa kabuuang bilang na 12,697,558 ang mga nakapagpatalang mag-aaral na papasok sa Kindergarten hanggang Grade 12 sa mga pampubliko at pribadong paaralan sa buong bansa,” DepEd said.

It said that 7,693,878 enrolled in public schools, 437,426 in private schools, 8,927 in state and local universities and colleges, and 87,731 under the Alternative register Learning System program.

“Pinakamarami na ang nakapagpatala sa Region 4-A (2,073,397), na sinusundan ng NCR (1,278,207), at Region 3 (1,173,911),” the department said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said that there may be a lag in the reporting of enrollment data because some schools first collate the enrollment forms, particularly those in drop boxes before reporting.

She added that her 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.