Article by:
Hilda Austria
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Department of Education (DepEd) has recorded 157,521 early registrants from Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7 and 11 in the Ilocos Region for school year 2026-2027, higher by 7.4 percent than the 146,637 last school year.
In an online forum on Tuesday, Joey Pimentel, Regional Statistician of DepEd Ilocos’ Policy, Planning and Research Division, said the increase was due to the new DepEd order regarding the cut off in the age of kindergarteners and also the child-mapping activities of the division offices.
"The age qualification for kindergarten should be 5 years old by Oct. 31 of every calendar year. However, the school may consider learners entering kindergarten who will turn 5 years old from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 on the conditions that the learners shall have completed an early childhood care and development (ECCD) program for one school year. Parents, guardians shall provide copies of the certificate of completion of attendance of the learners' previous ECCD program experience from a public or private child development center's learning that are granted with permit or recognition," he said.
He said the early registration that started Jan. 31 and ended on Feb. 27 this year included the incoming Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 7 and Grade 11 learners in all public elementary and secondary schools while the incoming grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 are preregistered in the system.
Of the total number of early registrants for school year 2026-2027, 34,130 are in Kindergarten, 52,147 in Grade 1, 36,528 in Grade 7, and 34,716 in Grade 11.
"We have achieved our target in our early registration," Pimentel said.
The DepEd conducted early registration so “they would know what to prepare for the next school year.”
Learners who were not able to register earlier can still enroll prior to opening of classes for the upcoming school year. (PNA)
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