2 million private school students move to or drop out of public schools due to the COVID-19 crisis: officials

MANILA – About 2 million students studying at private educational institutions are expected to enroll in public schools or drop out of school this school year after their parents’ earnings were affected by the coronavirus crisis, officials from Thursday said. education.

The enrollment rate in private schools has “steadily declined” before the coronavirus crisis, but the global pandemic is expected to halve the 4 million private school students in the Philippines, said Joseph Estrada, managing director of the Council Coordinator of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA). Commission for Basic Education, Art and Culture.

“Even before the pandemic, the steady decline has already reached 25 percent … due to many factors. But we anticipate more [this year], about 50 percent, “he said.

Millions of Filipinos lost their income after the government ordered the closure of non-essential industries in Luzon, the most populous island in the Philippines, to curb the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The 2-month blockade of the capital region, which accounts for about a third of the Philippines’ gross domestic product, caused a decline in economic activity and reduced the country’s gross domestic product for the first time since 1998.

Migration of students to public schools is expected to be a “double whammy” for private schools during the coronavirus crisis, said Senate Committee on Basic Education, Art and Culture chairman Sherwin Gatchalian.

“The student school, the practice of social distance practice, which is the private school,” he said, referring to the Department of Education’s policy of limiting a class to 20 students from the usual 30 to 40. students

(They will lose students, they will also have to practice social distancing so that this reduces the income of private schools).

Congress will attempt to expand the Government Assistance Program for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), which provides monetary assistance to teachers and students in private schools to decongest public learning institutions.

DepEd is also continually trying to find ways to accommodate millions of students who will “migrate” to public schools, Deputy Secretary of Education Jesús Mateo said.

“Pinaguusapan na namin paano matatap the federation of the association of parents and teachers, which plays an important role in the performance of the situation,” he said, referring to DepEd’s change to a “combined” education system in which students would also have what to learn online. , TV and radio platforms while you are at home.

(We are already discussing how to take advantage of the Parent Teacher Association Federation because parents will have a different role in this situation.)

COCOPEA also called on the government to include private school teachers in its social improvement program to help educators support their own children in private educational facilities.