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Equitable Access to Quality Education in the Philippines

This article shows the effectiveness of the Department of Education (DepEd) in granting equitable access to learners throughout the basic education sector.

Equitable Access and Participation

DepEd is responsible for delivering basic education through 61,946 schools across the country. Prior to COVID-19 in early 2020, it served nearly 28 million learners.

The number of public schools has been stable over the past decade until the Senior High School Level was implemented in 2016. This resulted in a significant increase in the number of schools offering secondary-level classes and particularly in private schools.

State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), as well as Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), were tapped to offer Senior High Schools (SHS). The increase in the sector’s size was facilitated by implementing a Voucher Program, which effectively permitted private schools to implement Senior High School and absorb the excess capacity of students from DepEd public schools progressing on to SHS.

The total enrollment in all grades (Kindergarten to Grade 12) in SY 2019-2020 was 27,790,114, including private, public, those in laboratory classes of state universities, and Philippine Schools Overseas serving the children of Filipino overseas workers.

Over the last ten years, the number of learners in Kindergarten-Grade 10 showed a significant increase in JHS, a weak increase in Kindergarten, and a decrease in Elementary (figure 1). There was a continued increase in enrollment for Junior High School (Grades 7-10), signaling the system’s efficiency at keeping students in school and its effectiveness in attracting dropouts and early school leavers back to school. There was a significant increase in total enrollments when SHS was introduced in 2017, with a concentration in urban areas.

Enrollment Trends

Figure 1: Enrollment Trends, 2011-2020

Historical Enrolment by Level of Education (Public and Private Schools)

Table 1: Historical enrolment by level of education (public and private schools), 2016-2020

YearKinderElementary
(Grade 1-6)
Junior High School (Grade 7-10)Senior High School (Grade 11-12)Grand TotalGrowth Rate
20161,814,71314,100,2907,564,8271,445,10724,924,9374.41%
20172,268,45513,483,6207,826,4142,733,46026,311,9495.56%
20182,409,78213,265,2598,320,6273,022,84127,018,5092.63%
20192,044,74513,287,9618,503,6503,188,33427,030,3910.04%
20201,806,69511,953,6437,916,6552,891,57724,641,792-9%
Source: DepEd EBEIS

Table 1 shows a sustained increase in Kindergarten numbers up to 2016, but then the numbers decreased in 2019 (before COVID-19). There was a considerable decrease of 365,307 students, and most of this reduction occurred in public schools. This change was due, at least partially, to a change in the application of the Kindergarten policy.

In elementary schools, a negative trend started in 2017, with a significant reduction in enrolment of more than 835,000 students, mostly in public schools. Likewise, the increase in enrolment in both JHS and SHS is mainly in public schools, with an impressive increase of 89% in SHS between 2016 and 2017, as it was incorporated as a new free basic education level. The subsequent decrease in enrolment at all levels in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic mainly was in private schools.

National Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) and Net Enrollment Rate (NER)

Figure 2: National Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) and Net Enrollment Rate (NER), SY 2017-2018 to 2019-2020

DepEd National Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) and Net Enrollment Rate (NER), SY 2017-2018 to 2019-2020

Gross Enrollment Rate and Net Enrollment Rate by Educational Level

Table 2: Gross Enrollment Rate and Net Enrollment Rate by Educational Level, SY 2017-2020

Level of EducationGross Enrollment Rate (GER)Net Enrollment Rate (NER)
SY 2017-2018SY 2018-2019SY 2019-2020SY 2017-2018SY 2018-2019SY 2019-2020
Kindergarten102%107%90%84%76%63%
Grade 1 to
Grade 6
105%102%101%94%94%94%
Junior High School95%100%102%76%81%83%
Senior High School67%74%78%46%51%48%

The analysis of enrollment rates shows that the Kindergarten and Elementary sectors experienced a declining trend in recent years. While the GER in Elementary declined four percentage points (p.p.) and the NER remained stable, in Kindergarten, the downward trend was more accentuated, with a reduction of 12 p.p. in GER and 21 p.p. in NER.

Enrollment in secondary education has consistently grown in the last three years. In SHS, the GER rose 11 p.p. in three years, while the NER rose less than two p.p., which indicates that more learners are accessing SHS but not at the right age.

Key Stages in Basic Education

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 established one year of compulsory Kindergarten for five-year-olds. However, many parents are not sending their 5-year-old children to Kindergarten, and current enrollment rates are lower than the figures obtained when the Act was approved.

In SY 2012-2013, just before the 2013 Act was implemented, the GER for Kindergarten was 102.7% and the NER 77%. In the following three years, the GER fell by 25 p.p. and the NER by ten p.p. The enrollment has fluctuated dramatically, with a high GER of 107% in SY 20132014 and a low of 82.5% in SY 2016-2017. In SY 2019-2020, the GER was 90% and the NER 63%.

GER and NER existed in parallel except in 2018, when the GER increased from 102% to 107%, while the NER decreased from 84% to 76% (table 1). That means many more children are enrolled in school but are not in the โ€œright-ageโ€ group. The difference between GER and NER has been high throughout the years, with the highest difference (31 p.p.) in 2014 and 2018.

The Kindergarten NER reflects the changes in the policy for eligible ages that can be enrolled in the level. In 2015, DepEd accepted children who will turn five years old by June 1 but gave some allowance until October 31.

However, in 2016, this policy was drastically changed, and the cut-off became August 31, helping to explain the drop of the indicator from 74% to 66%.

In 2017, the policy was retained, and many of those children who were ineligible to enroll in 2016 were accepted in 2017, resulting in a significant increase in the indicator from 66% to 84%.

In 2018, a new policy set the age cut-off to June 1, driving the indicator downward. However, there was public pushback on this policy, and DepEd amended it to account for different starting months for private schools (i.e., some start in June, others in July, and the rest in August). So there was a more lenient implementation of the June cut-off.

The net effect of this policy adjustment was a decline in the indicator, but not as large had the June cut-off been observed. In 2019, the June cut-off was finally enforced, and the indicator decreased to 63%, as had occurred in 2016 when a similar policy was implemented.

The net enrollment rate in Kindergarten in SY 2019-2020 is only 63.43%. Despite the law-making Kindergarten mandatory at age 5, many parents still believe that their children are too young to attend formal school.

Other reasons for non-enrolment are poverty, parents having to work, and no one to assist the child in attending school. The FLEMMS 2019 survey also corroborated this data by asserting that 98% of children aged 3-4 are reportedly not attending school because they are too young.

Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates in Kindergarten

Figure 3: Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates in Kindergarten, SY 2010-2011 to SY 2019-2020.

DepEd Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates in Kindergarten, SY 2010-2011-SY 2019-2020.

Another reason for the low enrollment rates in Kindergarten can be found in the participation rates in early learning programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, which remain relatively low despite national and local efforts to provide early learning opportunities in center-based, home-based, or mobile early learning services. 

According to household survey data, only around 30% of 3-4-year-old children participated in preschool programs in 2015. According to DSWD’s administrative data on supplementary feeding programs, about 1.78 million children were enrolled in daycare centers in 2018, representing only about 40% of 3-4-year-old children. There is a need to collect data on why so many three and 4-year-olds are not benefiting from early learning programs, despite the policy framework in the Early Years Act of 2013.

Implementing the Early Years Act, emphasizing the holistic development of a child and the cross-sectoral nature of the service, still faces multiple challenges. These include

  1. malnutrition,
  2. neonatal mortality,
  3. challenges in cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes of young children from disadvantaged households,
  4. challenges with developmental outcomes of young children with disabilities and young children with developmental delays, and
  5. violence experienced by young children in their homes.

In a broader context, ECCD continues to face issues with (1) service delivery, (2) data collection and use, (3) institutional organization, and (4) legislative framework.

There are also disparities in the access of 3-5-year-old children to ECCD services for the following groups: children with disabilities, children with developmental delays, children whose parents are subsistence farmers and fisher folks, children living in indigenous communities (especially those that are mobile and migratory), children living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, children living in conflict areas, children living in disaster-affected areas, children living in poor urban areas, children living on the streets.

The NER for Elementary shows DepEd’s ability to bring children into school at the right age (between 6 and 12 years old). In the last two years, NER has been around 95%, which means that 5% of elementary school-age children are not in school.

Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Elementary

Figure 4: Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Elementary, SY 2009-2010 to SY 2019-2020

DepEd Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Elementary, SY 2009-2010 to SY 2019-2020

GER and NER have changed from a difference of 18 p.p. in 2009 to 8 p.p. in 2020, which means that more children are in school at the right age. However, the current NER is lower than ten years ago, which indicates that more families are not sending their children to elementary education because of a perception that what is taught in school is not relevant or not interesting for children, or there is a growing opportunity cost of enrolling children in school. According to FLEMMS, lack of personal interest, disability, and insufficient family income are also reasons for children not attending elementary school.

Elementary NER experienced a 2-p.p. drop in SY2017-2018 due to the significant drop in Kindergarten NER in SY2016-2017. While the drop in Kindergarten NER the previous year was around eight p.p., elementary education covers a bigger age group (6-11 years); thus, the drop in Elementary NER was significantly smaller. After this statistical correction, the Elementary NER stabilized again.

In JHS, after five years of stagnation between 2010 and 2015, GER and NER have been consistently growing in parallel in recent years, with a GER of 102% and a NER of 83% in SY 2019-2020. The variation in NER for JHS between boys and girls is 8.4 p.p.

Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Junior High School

Figure 5: Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Junior High School, SY 2019-2020

DepEd Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Junior High School, SY 2019-2020

By SY 2019-2020, there were 18,306 SHS nationwide, serving almost 3.2 million SHS students. These figures have consistently grown since 2016, which points to society’s gradual acceptance of SHS’s importance.

A significant reason for this increased number is due to the vouchers provided by DepEd to SHS students in private schools: 1,290,184 students from private SHS and 58,808 learners from non-DepEd public SHS, according to the DepEd’s budget report.

Senior High School (SHS) Schools and Students per Track

Table 3: Senior High School (SHS) Schools and Students per Track, SY 2019-2020

Senior High School TracksNo. of SchoolsNo. of Students
Academic10,5812,091,477
Technical Vocational Learning7,3581,082,531
Sports1205,483
Arts & Design24714,544
Total18,0363,194,035
Source: DepEd EBEIS

The same data show that the Academic track emerged as the preferred track for 65% of SHS students. This represents studies on (1) Accountancy, Business and Management, (2) Humanities and Social Sciences, (3) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), (4) General Academic Studies and (5) Maritime Education.

The Technical-Vocational Learning track attracted 34% of SHS students and is closely linked with TESDA courses and certification. Around 93% of students in this track gain National Certificate I and II credentials by the time they graduate. The remaining students are in specialized programs in Sports and Arts & Design.

Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Senior High School

Figure 6: Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Senior High School, SY 2016-2020

DepEd Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates for Senior High School, SY 2016-2020

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that the SHS program had notable gains because all stakeholders gave it a chance and exerted effort to make it successful.

Unfortunately, these figures only translate to 78% GER and 48% NER for the entire level. These figures continue to reflect the high opportunity costs of education, especially for students in the higher grades.

Moreover, the program still must address the following challenges: (1) lack of resources, (2) curriculum issues, (3) inadequate social marketing, (4) lack of capacity building for teachers, (5) unavailability of all tracks in all geographic areas, (6) uneven implementation nationwide, (7) lack of subsidies for taking National Certificate examinations, (8) inadequate human resources and (9) lack of coordination with external partners, including the long-term plan for the support for private schools.

The continued increases in SHS GER, even during a period when the corresponding NER is declining, can be partially explained by increased employment prospects after graduation.

However, as most SHS enrolment is in the Academic Track, one cannot discount the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act’s effect on basic education. The law made TVET and college virtually free in public institutions and provided substantial financial assistance for individuals wanting to gain TVET or college credentials in private institutions. The law was passed in 2017 and took effect in SY2018-19, coinciding with the increases in SHS GER while the NER was plateauing and eventually decreasing.

DepEd’s internal monitoring points to increasing acceptance of SHS by the general public and the willingness of the industry to hire SHS graduates. The main driver of this improved reputation is the work immersion program included in the SHS curriculum.

However, many stakeholders have expressed concern that the time allotment for work immersion is only enough for orientation/familiarization and not for actual skills acquisition.

Business groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been lobbying DepEd for increased work immersion hours to improve students’ employability immediately after completing SHS.

The generally positive response to SHS should also be viewed concerning the labor surplus when considering college students and graduates looking for work. It is crucial to ensure that SHS graduates will be competitive in a labor market in surplus.

Regional Characteristics

For SY 2019-20 (before COVID-19), Region IV-A had the most significant share of total enrollment, while CAR had the lowest. The enrolment size reflects the distribution of population in the country, as well as the economic activity in the regions.

National average data mask disparities between and within different regions. The national NER in Kindergarten is 63.43%, but there are regions with less than 60% of NER (BARMM, NCR, Region I, and Region IV-B). In comparison, other regions have a NER near or above 70% (Region X and Region VII).

Net Enrollment Rate for All Basic Educational Levels by Region

Table 3: Net Enrollment Rate for All Basic Educational Levels by Region, SY 2019-2020

RegionKindergartenGrades 1 to 6Kindergarten to Grade 6Grades 7 to 10 (JHS)Grades 11 to 12 (SHS)Grades 7 to 12 (JHS to SHS)
Region I – llocos Region57.10%89.99%88.66%89.85%61.54%90.38%
Region II – Cagayan Valley62.45%97.17%95.71%88.81%56.46%88.63%
Region III – Central Luzon67.06%100.03%100.00%87.69%58.03%87.69%
Region IV-A (CALABARZON)65.37%98.23%98.22%87.85%54.79%87.96%
Region IV-B (MIMAROPA)58.61%90.26%89.57%81.12%46.00%81.65%
Region V – Bicol Region63.58%92.68%92.73%82.27%42.31%82.65%
Region VI – Western Visayas66.82%97.25%96.39%85.68%44.22%85.89%
Region VII – Central Visayas69.50%98.07%97.97%88.52%47.81%88.42%
Region VIII – Eastern Visayas61.75%91.60%91.15%80.05%42.08%80.09%
Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula65.24%91.70%92.91%74.24%34.43%75.03%
Region X – Northern Mindanao73.36%99.23%100.57%76.75%38.05%77.01%
Region XI – Davao Region60.45%93.87%93.58%85.44%41.53%84.94%
Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN64.41%92.24%92.57%75.89%37.45%76.46%
CARAGA Region64.31%94.84%94.38%82.20%40.77%81.80%
BARMM – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao53.65%71.51%75.84%36.48%10.59%38.41%
CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region62.32%91.40%89.91%84.76%50.53%84.26%
NCR – National Capital Region57.17%89.91%88.88%89.68%62.28%91.54%
TOTAL63.43%93.96%93.87%82.89%47.76%83.27%
Source: DepEd EBEIS

In Elementary education, while Region III achieved a NER of 100%, nine regions were below the average NER of 94%, with BARMM reaching only a NER of 71.5%.

The Philippines has an average NER of 83% in JHS; Region I and NCR have the highest rates (above 89%); Region IX, Region X, and Region XII are below 77%, and BARMM has only 36.5%. The NER falls to 48% in SHS, with significant disparities among the regions: Those regions with a higher proportion of urban populations show the highest NER in NCR and Region I, around 62%, Region III and IV near 55%. On the other hand, the NER in Regions IX, X, and XII are below 40%, and BARMM has a meager 10.6%.

Further analysis of the factors driving the results in the successful regions can help to improve the performance of those less successful regions. For example, Region III and NCR are quite successful, except for Kindergarten in NCR. Region I is a paradoxical case as it is at the bottom of the listing for NER in Kindergarten and Elementary but near the top for JHS and SHS, which may reflect the priorities of the regional authorities.

Region 9 and BARMM could benefit significantly from more detailed analyses of the situation in regions with better enrolment indicators. Particular attention should be given to BARMM, as its indicators are not just consistently the lowest (with a higher difference of 46 p.p. less than the national average in NER in JHS) but are also considered outliers because of its very low magnitudes. This is consistent with the findings that the highest drop-out rates and the number of out-of-school children and youth are in BARMM.

Top and Bottom Regions for Net Enrollment Rates (NER)

Table 4: Top and Bottom Regions for NER, SY 2019-2020

KindergartenElementaryJHSSHS
TopBottomTopBottomTopBottomTopBottom
Region X
73.36%
BARMM
53.65%
Region III
100.03%
BARMM
71.51%
Region I
89.85%
BARMM
36.48%
NCR
62.28%
Region V
42.31%
Region VII
69.50%
Region I 57.10%Region X
99.23%
Region I 89.99%NCR
89.68%
Region IX
74.24%
Region I 61.54%Region IX
34.43%
Region III
67.06%
NCR
57.17%
Region IV-A 98.23%Region IV-B 90.26%Region II
88.81%
Region XII
75.89%
Region III
58.03%
BARMM
10.59%
Region VII
98.07%
Region VII
88.52%
Source: Elaborated by the authors based on data from DepEd EBEIS

The disparities are not only among regions but also within regions, when NER is disaggregated by gender. The differences between the numbers of elementary girls and boys when disaggregated by region go from less than 5 p.p. in Region I to around 10 p.p. in Regions II, VII, IX, XI and BARMM.

The national NER in SHS in SY 2019-2020 is 48%, but the disaggregated data show that the disparities between males and females are significant. For instance, there is a gap of almost 15 p.p. in favor of girls (NER is 40.65% for boys; 55.34% for girls). When the NER is disaggregated by region (table 12), the difference is above 13 p.p. in almost all the regions. In CAR, the gap is almost 19 p.p. (41.46% for boys and 60.28% for girls). In BARMM, the difference is just 6 p.p. but the NER is extremely low for both boys (7.49%) and girls (13.73%).

Net Enrollment Rate per Key Stage by Region and Gender

Table 5: Net Enrollment Rate per Key Stage by Region and Gender (SY 2019-2020)

RegionKindergartenGrades 1 to 6Junior High School (Grades 7-10)Senior High School (Grades 11-12)
Region I – IlocosTotal (MF)57.10%89.99%89.85%61.54%
Male (M)57.08%90.35%87.06%54.50%
Female (F)57.13%89.61%92.83%69.23%
Region II – Cagayan ValleyTotal (MF)62.45%97.17%88.81%56.46%
Male (M)62.67%97.31%84.75%48.45%
Female (F)62.21%97.02%93.13%65.20%
Region III – Central LuzonTotal (MF)67.06%100.03%87.69%58.03%
Male (M)66.76%100.02%84.04%51.62%
Female (F)67.38%100.03%91.57%64.94%
Region IV-A (CALABARZON)Total (MF)65.37%98.23%87.85%54.79%
Male (M)64.27%97.87%84.29%48.16%
Female (F)66.53%98.61%91.62%61.84%
Region IV-B (MIMAROPA)Total (MF)58.61%90.26%81.12%46.00%
Male (M)57.95%89.79%77.19%39.02%
Female (F)59.31%90.75%85.31%53.52%
Region V – BicolTotal (MF)63.58%92.68%82.27%42.31%
Male (M)62.91%93.09%78.18%34.35%
Female (F)64.28%92.25%86.59%50.91%
Region VI – Western VisayasTotal (MF)66.82%97.25%85.68%44.22%
Male (M)66.78%97.74%81.63%36.34%
Female (F)66.87%96.75%89.96%52.66%
Region VII – Central VisayasTotal (MF)69.50%98.07%88.52%47.81%
Male (M)68.85%98.08%83.37%39.12%
Female (F)70.18%98.05%93.97%57.12%
Region VIII – Eastern VisayasTotal (MF)61.75%91.60%80.05%42.08%
Male (M)61.20%91.44%75.50%33.84%
Female (F)62.33%91.76%84.85%50.92%
Region IX – Zamboanga PeninsulaTotal (MF)65.24%91.70%74.24%34.43%
Male (M)63.92%91.22%69.13%27.06%
Female (F)66.63%92.20%79.54%42.28%
Region X – Northern MindanaoTotal (MF)73.36%99.23%76.75%38.05%
Male (M)72.73%100.10%72.47%31.02%
Female (F)74.02%98.33%81.13%45.48%
Region XI – DavaoTotal (MF)60.45%93.87%85.44%41.53%
Male (M)59.19%93.15%80.15%33.81%
Female (F)61.79%94.63%90.98%49.67%
Region XII – SOCCSKSARGENTotal (MF)64.41%92.24%75.89%37.45%
Male (M)63.17%91.82%70.70%30.88%
Female (F)65.72%92.68%81.29%44.41%
CARAGA RegionTotal (MF)64.31%94.84%82.20%40.77%
Male (M)64.30%95.46%78.54%34.27%
Female (F)64.31%94.20%85.99%47.70%
BARMM – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoTotal (MF)53.65%71.51%36.48%10.59%
Male (M)49.38%68.42%31.07%7.49%
Female (F)58.16%74.70%41.96%13.73%
CAR – Cordillera Administrative RegionTotal (MF)62.32%91.40%84.76%50.53%
Male (M)62.78%92.25%80.81%41.46%
Female (F)61.83%90.51%88.90%60.28%
NCR – National Capital RegionTotal (MF)57.17%89.91%89.68%62.28%
Male (M)56.11%89.43%86.06%54.93%
Female (F)58.28%90.42%93.47%70.00%
TOTAL PHILIPPINESTotal (MF)63.43%93.96%82.89%47.76%
Male (M)62.59%93.79%78.80%40.65%
Female (F)64.31%94.15%87.20%55.34%
Source: DepEd SY 2019-2020 Performance Indicators

Transition rates are high in basic education. The transition rate from Grade 4 to Grade 5 was 99% in SY 2019-2020, and for Grade 6 to Grade 7, it was 95.5% (94% for boys and 97% for girls). It is high in all regions except in BARMM, which is 80%. The transition from JHS to SHS is very high, at 97%, with almost parity for numbers of males and females. Most regions have transition rates above 94%, except Regions IV-A and IV-B, 92%, and BARMM, with 85%.

Internal Efficiency

The internal efficiency of an education system is measured through the Cohort Survival Rate (CSR) and Completion Rate (CR). CSR indicates the percentage of pupils or students in a given cohort who started Grade 1 or Grade 7 and reached Grade 6 and 10, respectively. Indicators on school leavers, dropouts, and repetition may help explain CSR and CR. It must be noted that in the Philippines, there is only information on internal efficiency indicators for the formal basic education levels, not for non-formal education.

Cohort Survival Rate and Completion Rate

Table 6: Cohort Survival Rate and Completion Rate – SY 2009 to SY 2019

School YearCohort Survival Rate (%)Completion Rate (%)
ElementaryJHSElementaryJHS
SY 2009-201074787274
SY 2010-201174797275
SY 2011-201274797174
SY 2012-201374787375
SY 2013-201479797876
SY 2014-201585818478
SY 2015-201688828474
SY 2016-201794839381
SY 2017-201894869284
SY 2018-201997899789
SY 2019-202097879786
Source: EMISD-EBEIS

CSR and CR reflect the success rates for DepEd to encourage learners to remain in the education system and complete their education. With a 97% CSR and 97% CR rate at the elementary level, almost all pupils who started Grade 1 reach Grade 6 and complete the elementary schooling requirements.

Table 6 shows significant improvements in DepEd’s ability to retain children in school in the last ten years. Improvements in learning facilities and implementation of retention programs in Grades 1-3 may have contributed to the increase in CSR and CR. Retention programs addressing pupils at risk of dropping out (PARDO) are working, as evidenced by a significant reduction in the dropout rate from 6.3% (SY 2009-2010) to 0.6% (SY 2019-2020) and a 99% transition rate (SY 20192020) primary to intermediate level.

Other significant programs, including alternative delivery mode (ADM), mother-tongue-based multi-lingual education (MTB-MLE), and inclusion programs (targeting learners with disability and pupils belonging to disadvantaged communities or sectors), are contributory to the strong retention performance of schools in the elementary level.

Moving forward, elementary schools must continue addressing dropout issues at the primary level. Around 75% of dropouts in SY 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 are between Kindergarten and Grade 4, with Kindergarten and Grade 1 accounting for almost 60% of the dropouts at the primary level. The readiness of kindergarten learners for elementary schooling and their reading competencies should be strengthened and prioritized.

While the ability to retain students in school at the secondary level is improving, it still needs major improvements. The CSR in JHS improved from 78% (SY 2009โ€“2010) to 87% (SY 2019โ€“2020), and the completion rate jumped from 74% CR to 86% CR. Recent data on dropouts are highest in JHS. Figure 7 shows the highest dropout rates in Grades 7-9. The total number of dropouts for Grades 7-9 constitutes 45% of the total number of pupils and students who dropped out of schooling in SY 2019-2020.

Dropouts – Kindergarten to Grade 12

Figure 7: Dropouts – Kindergarten to Grade 12, SY 2019-2020

DepEd Dropouts - Kindergarten to Grade 12, SY 2019-2020

Despite having a 96% transition rate (Grade 6 graduates proceeding to Grade 7), the high number of school leavers and dropouts affected the overall efficiency of schools in JHS.

Retention programs should be reviewed and enhanced, including the dropout reduction program (DORP), open high school (OHS), and other similar programs. Incidences of secondary-level students who cannot read or are at a frustration level should also be addressed and reviewed.

CSR and CR are also low in SHS. SHS dropouts account for only 2% of the total dropouts in the Secondary level. However, these data need to be reviewed and triangulated with NER, CSR, and CR.

For SY 2019-2020, the transition rate is 97%, CSR is 80%, and NER is 48%. The low incidence of dropouts in SHS can be traced to shifting tracks. Students shifting track means changing strand/track within an SY (SHS is divided into two semesters).

Possible causes of shifting track include (i) changing interests, (ii) difficulty coping with requirements, (iii) poor implementation of the track, and (iv) others. The student shifting strand/track did not necessarily drop out and stayed in school. This phenomenon, however, will significantly reduce NER and CSR.

Dropouts in SHS can also be explained by the prospects of landing a job, which is high for SHS students in the TVL track. Regions with vibrant service and manufacturing industries (NCR, Region 3, Region 4A, Region 7, Region 9, and Region 11) may be โ€œpullingโ€ SHS students from SHS schooling.

Dropouts are also observed for SHS students availing of the voucher program. Coping in a private school setting may be difficult for some SHS students from public schools.

When a cohort from Grade 1 to Grade 12 is followed, the completion rate is low, with only 43% of Grade 1 cohorts completing Grade 12. The most significant attrition may be happening in the JHS, possibly pointing to quality or performance issues of students.

Only 4 out of 10 students graduate from SHS, which may reflect ineffective back-to-school programs or possibly the changing societal mindsets about the long-term benefits of education. Improving the completion rate is a fundamental challenge for DepEd and society in general.

Cohort Survival of Grade 1 Students in SY 2006-2007 to Grade 12 Graduates

Figure 8: Cohort Survival of Grade 1 Students in SY 2006-2007 to Grade 12 Graduates in SY 2017-2018

READ:

The Education Situation of Vulnerable Groups in the Philippines

Education Policy Priorities and Reform in the Philippines

Addressing Gaps in DepEd Developed Learning Resources

DepEd Projected Classroom Shortages in Case of Limited to Full Face-to-Face Classes

The Importance of a School-Based Management System (SBM)

Total Number of DepEd Teachers by Position Title and Level of Education

Number of Teachers by Teaching Assignment not in Area of Specialization

The Proportion of Teachers With Teacher III and Master Teacher Positions

Unfilled Positions in DepEd by Regions

Overall Passing Rate in Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)

Administrative Cases Filed by Private Lending Institutions Against DepEd Personnel

Classroom Shortages in the Philippines

Source:

Office of the Undersecretary for Administration (OUA)

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Jasper Klint de la Fuente

High School Teacher ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿซ๐ŸŽ| Lifelong Learner ๐Ÿ“š| Passionate about developing the next generation of leaders ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ’ป๐ŸŽ“

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