MORE learners keep enrolling for the coming school year, giving credence to Education Secretary Leonor Briones’ earlier statement that ‘students want to learn’.

Latest data from DepEd showed that more than 23 million students from private and public schools have enrolled for the incoming school year.

A total number of 21,507,811 have enrolled in public schools and 1,569,035 in private schools.

Briones said students have been sending messages saying they want classes to start and that they miss their classmates, teachers and the school setting.

To fulfill this goal, parents have been helping create a classroom setting at home for their children.

The DepEd, meanwhile, clarified that the learners don’t need to wear school uniforms during online classes.

On the other hand, groups have been calling for the postponement of the Aug. 24 opening of classes, claiming the students and teachers are not prepared and that they lack the necessary materials.

DepEd has assured that it is fully ready for the coming school year and that there is no reason to move the start of classes.