DepEd: Special 'face-to-face' enrollment considered in areas w/o internet in NegOr

DepEd-Negros Oriental Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Paulin (left with mic) talks about their office's preparation for the opening of classes including the remote enrollment which they are implementing in their coverage area. Dr. Paulin is one of the speakers of the PIA-IATF-EID "Straight from the Source" Press Briefing held June 9, 2020 at the IATF Media Briefing Area, Perdices Coliseum, Dumaguete City. (KAT/PIA7-NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 11 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Negros Oriental is considering to hold special “face-to-face” enrollment sessions intended for parents or guardians residing in communities with no internet access.

DepEd-Negros Oriental Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Paulin clarified that the move is still part of the remote enrollment scheme implemented by DepEd nationwide to avoid physical contact and prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the enrollment period.

Under this scheme, class advisers contact parents and guardians to get the names of enrollees for the upcoming school year.

The latter are also requested to fill out and submit a Learner Enrollment Survey Form (LESF) upon enrollment of their kids.

The LESF is a data gathering tool of DepEd which determines what type of learning method or approach is suitable for a learner or group of learners in a certain community.

Accomplished survey forms are submitted online through e-mail or through mobile messaging programs.

Paulin said they are currently undertaking the remote enrollment scheme but they also came up with the idea of having a special “face-to-face” enrollment session in consideration to those parents and guardians who have difficulty in filling out and submitting LESF due to lack of internet connection in their area.

“Wala nato isalikway ang kamatuoran na daghan sad kaayo ang di na kaya. So mao na na duna tay adlaw na gigahin para sa 'face-to-face' para sa mga ginikanan na tingali naglibog sila unsaon pag-fill up sa LESF or naa tay uban na basig maglisod ug sabot  (We are acknowledging the fact that there are a lot of people who are not yet capable of submitting it online. In response to this, we are planning to set a date for a "face-to-face" to assist parents who have difficulty in answering questions or filling out the form),” Paulin explained.

“Kanang 'face-to-face' amo nang gigahin para sa mga ginikanan, para sa gusto magpa-enroll na mas confident sila na naa nag-atubang sila sa maestra nag-fill up aron sigurado (This face-to-face enrollment initiative is intended for parents or guardians who need guidance from teachers when answering the survey form),” he added.

The DepEd official admitted that the online submission generated only 3,000 responses out of more than 185,000 students under the division’s coverage area.

Paulin also disclosed he heard some feedback from parents who still prefer personal interaction during enrollment.

“Naay mga pangutana sa survey form na dili kaayo sila klaro (There are questions that are not clear to them),” Paulin noted.  

DepEd Negros Oriental Division initally set to hold this on the third week of June but was put on hold as details are still being ironed out, including the approval from DepEd central office.

Paulin said coordination letters were already sent to public school heads and barangay officials to ensure that proper protocols on physical distancing are observed when the face-to-face enrollment session pushes through.

The DepEd division superintendent emphasized that their office is providing opportunities to make sure parents can enroll their children this school year.

Meanwhile, DepEd-Dumaguete City Division Superintendent Dr. Cyrus Gregorio Elejorde reported the online enrollment scheme proved to be effective in the city.

As of this week, Elejorde said 60 percent of the students based on the number of enrollees last year were already enrolled through online enrollment.

“It is still growing because it is the second week of the implementation. We are still expecting that more will be enrolled eventually. We won’t say that the enrollment won’t stop unless classes will start. It means until August, possibly naa gihapon mo-enroll (enrollment can still go on until August),” Elejorde said. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1044530