Enrollment for SY 2026-2027 to reach 28 million

Anticipated Student Enrollment Across the Country

The Department of Education expects total enrollment for School Year 2026-2027 to reach between 26 and 28 million learners as classes start on June 8. This projection comes directly from DepEd officials who are monitoring registration trends nationwide.

Early enrollment efforts began in January and continue to this day because some students are still signing up or have yet to complete their registration. Assistant Secretary Jocelyn Andaya shared these updates in an interview with dzBB, highlighting how families across local communities are gradually completing the process.

Preparations Led by DepEd Under National Leadership

President Marcos and Education Secretary Sonny Angara have directed DepEd to focus on school readiness ahead of the opening date. The agency has been working to prepare classrooms, staff, and materials so that learners in every region can start the year smoothly.

These preparations reflect the government’s commitment to supporting ordinary Filipino families who rely on public schools. DepEd continues to track enrollment numbers closely to adjust plans where needed in provinces and cities alike.

Implementing the Three-Term School Calendar

The three-term school calendar will proceed starting this school year despite requests from teachers’ groups to delay the change. DepEd has planned additional orientation sessions for students and parents during the opening period to explain the new setup as part of broader education reforms.

Private schools will receive flexibility in how they adopt the three-term calendar. The total number of school days will stay at 202 even with the new structure, ensuring continuity for learners and their families throughout the year.

Addressing Concerns from Teachers’ Groups

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition has stated that it is not too late to defer the new academic setup because many teachers and school heads still have questions about the three-term calendar and the revised senior high school curriculum.

DepEd acknowledges these concerns while moving forward with the reforms. Officials emphasize that clear communication with educators and communities will help address remaining issues before full implementation.

Ensuring Enough Personnel for All Schools

DepEd estimates there will be over one million teaching and non-teaching personnel available for the coming school year. This figure gives officials confidence that schools will have sufficient staff to support the expected millions of students.

Having adequate personnel remains vital for communities that depend on public education. The department continues to monitor staffing levels so that every classroom can operate effectively when classes begin on June 8.

Improving Classrooms and Learning Resources

The classroom backlog currently stands at 136,000 according to DepEd figures. The Department of Public Works and Highways has committed to delivering at least 9,000 classrooms this year, including new projects and carry-over work from previous years.

DepEd is also speeding up procurement of new books to reach a one-to-one ratio for learners. While some books from last year were incomplete, supplementary learning materials and lesson activity sheets are being used to bridge gaps until new books arrive in July.

Large construction firms are being encouraged to take part in building projects so schools can be completed faster and to higher standards. These efforts aim to create better learning environments for children in public schools across the Philippines.