MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that the early registration program for upcoming Kinder, Grades 1, 7 and 11 students for school year 2019-2020 will begin on Saturday.
DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said the registration would be until February 22.
"Bukas ang mga eskwelahan para sa registration para ma-locate at ma-register natin hindi lamang ang mga regular na pumapasok sa eskwelahan kung hindi ang atin ring out-of-school children and youth (Schools are open for the registration to locate and register not only those who go to school regularly but also out-of-school children and youth)," Sevilla said in a radio interview.
Parents need to bring to the registration their children's birth certificates issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority and report cards.
"Kailangan ang birth certificate para ma-establish ang edad ng bata dahil kapag Kinder po, ang tatanggapin namin ay iyong mga (We need the birth certificates to establish the age of the child because for Kinder, we will accept only those who are) going to be five years old by August 31, 2019. For Grades 1, 7 and 11, we'll follow the appropriate age level and the report card," she said.
Sevilla added schools would not be accepting five-year-olds for the grade one level unless they have proof of advanced level of competency.
"Kasi gusto natin itama ang edad ng mga students. Kung talagang advanced sila mayroong Philippine Education Placement (PEP) test na kukunin nila (We need to correct the ages of the students. if they're really advanced, there is the Philippine Education Placement test that they need to take), but generally we need to follow the appropriate age," she said.
Sevilla noted that DepEd schools cannot deny children without report cards the opportunity to register.
"Kung wala pong report card, i-a-assess kung nasaang level of competency ang bata (If there's no report card, there will be an assessment of the child's level of competency)," she said.
For out-of-school children and youth (OSCY), they have to undergo a different procedure. Sevilla said focal persons in the community look for OSCYs and encourage them to go back to school.
"Sasabihan po ang mga barangay officials at mga magulang na ang mga batang ito ay nakikita nilang hindi pumapasok. Pupuntahan po iyan ng aming Alternative Learning System mobile teachers na mag-reach out (The barangay officials and parents will be told that these children are not studying. Our Alternative Learning System mobile teachers will reach out to them)," she said.
Sevilla said OSCYs would undergo a PEP test to identify their level of competency. Afterwards, they would be taught one on one and eventually transferred to formal schooling.
"This is part of (DepEd) Secretary (Leonor) Briones' advocacy, now that we will not wait for the children to go to school. Instead, we will bring the school to the children)," she added.
Sevilla said this advocacy is related to the lower criminal age or social age of responsibility issue.
"These children could be doing those things because they have no formal or informal schooling and proper guidance at such a young age. We have a mandate to give access and quality education, which is the right of every child. We will find ways so they will have again the interest to study so they can be guided and not be a part of the problems in the future," she said.
While the registration is scheduled during regular school hours, Sevilla said start time may differ among schools.
Sevilla reiterated that there is no registration fee. The registration program is under DepEd's no collection policy.
"There's nothing to worry about Grades 2 to 5 and Grades 8 to 10 because we will register them automatically," she added. (PNA)
