Over 1M students to enter schools in Bicol region at class opening

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) Bicol is prepared to welcome 1,098,744 students on the first day of classes on Monday, July 29.

According to the Learners Information System (LIS) Enrollment Quick Count for school year 2024-2025, as of Friday, July 26, there are a total of 555,417 male and 543,327 female students enrolled in the region. Of this figure, 979,029 are in public schools and 93,485 are in private schools, including 25,191 in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and 1,039 in state and local universities and colleges.

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DepEd Bicol Director Gilbert Sadsad informed the Inquirer in a private message on Sunday, July 28, that they have consulted with the School Division Superintendents in Bicol and found that all schools are prepared for the opening.

“It cannot be avoided that there will always be challenges with classrooms, desks, and teachers. However, we are implementing measures to mitigate these issues,” Sadsad said.

Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Bicol police chief, stated in a separate interview that 12,000 personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of students returning to school.

“I will visit different schools tomorrow to personally assess the situation and ensure the safety of our students,” Dizon said.