DepEd sets registration of incoming first-year high school students in January

The Department of Education (DepEd) will require all graduating elementary students to register at their chosen private or public high school this January to assess the population of incoming first-year students for school year 2009-2010.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the registration of incoming first-year high school students will help the DepEd gather information on and monitor the number of graduating Grade 6 pupils who will and will not continue on to high school, enabling it to introduce appropriate interventions that will lessen the rate of student dropouts.

“This way, the department can take immediate measures to reduce the dropout rate in schools, especially between Grade 6 and first-year high school,” Lapus said.

DepEd said the actual enrollment for school year 2009-2010 will be in June next year.

DepEd Order No. 62, s. 2008 stipulates that the registration of elementary graduates will be held on the four Saturdays of January 2009.

In registering, graduating Grade 6 pupils have to present a certification from their school principal that they are candidates for graduation for school year 2008-2009.

DepEd is currently taking steps to address the dismal dropout rate among Filipino school children.

According to studies, only 66 out of 100 pupils graduate from Grade 6 and only 58 of them continue on to high school.

Lapus said the DepEd would absorb graduating students who will not register for high school under the Open High School program, as part of its intervention program.

Under the Open High School program, various models are introduced to suit the needs of the students, depending on the situation in a community.

One model offers night classes, while another scheme allows them to study through learning modules. – Rainier Allan Ronda