Public school teachers will be encouraged to go from house to house nationwide to track down and persuade families to enroll their children, as the Department of Education (DepEd) moves to counter a continuing decline in student registrations ahead of the opening of classes on 8 June.

“Mayroong mga bata tayo na tinatapos muna ang isang buwan bago mag-enroll. That’s why we’re talking to our teachers and our principals na mag-bahay-bahay na tayo upang mahikayat ang ating mga magulang na papuntahin na sa klase ang mga bata kasi madami silang mami-miss na mga lesson kung hindi sila pumasok,” Andaya explained in an interview with DZRH.

Education officials have previously noted that enrollment figures tend to fluctuate in the days leading up to class opening, with late enrollees and returnees often accounting for last-minute adjustments in total learner counts.

“Maganda kasi na pagpasok pa lang nila ng klase, handa na sila… makaka-engage na sila sa kanilang mga kaklase,” Andaya said.

DepEd has cited a combination of economic pressures on families, migration and mobility, disaster displacement, and lingering post-pandemic learning disruptions as key factors affecting school participation.

Metro Manila alone is projected to account for about 2.7 million learners, though DepEd said this remains subject to change as additional students continue to register nationwide.

DepEd data show average student-to-classroom ratios of 26 in Alongside the enrollment campaign, DepEd is also rolling out catch-up and remedial programs aimed at improving participation and addressing learning gaps left by the pandemic.

Schools nationwide are set to op en on 8 June.