DepEd says learners without access to technology can enroll through drop box system

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) — The Department of Education has said it will introduce starting Tuesday, June 16, a new mode of enrollment intended for parents or guardians struggling to enroll their children online or through phone call and text messaging.

“Moving forward, we will continue to conduct remote enrollment, while we will open the drop box system of enrollment,” DepEd said in a statement released Monday.

Parents or guardians could pick up and drop off enrollment forms in barangay (village) halls or public schools, DepEd added.

DepEd has drawn out the following guidelines for the so-called drop box enrollment system:

- Drop box kiosks will only cater to those parents who do not have access to remote means (text, call, online and social media) to communicate with their schools but wish to enroll their child.

- Only one adult from a household with quarantine pass will be allowed to go to these kiosks.

- Parents and guardians needing assistance are advised to ask for help from their respective barangay leadership in this transaction.

- Parents and guardians must be familiar with the advisory of the school or barangay on designated pick up and submission points before going out.

DepEd said that markings and signages will be in place to ensure proper social distancing, while teachers stationed at enrollment kiosks will be given face masks and disinfectants throughout the enrollment period, which is until June 30.

Public elementary and high school teachers, except those who form part of the skeleton workforce, will be working from home until June 21, DepEd said in its latest advisory posted on its website on Monday.

Prior to Tuesday, DepEd did not allow no face-to-face registration to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

As 5:30 p.m. Monday, more than 11 million learners have enrolled for school year 2020-2021 via remote means, the agency reported.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones previously said that once the academic calendar officially opens on August 24, the delivery of lessons could be done through the use of DepEd Commons, TV, radio, and learning modules and packets both in print and digital format.

DepEd has postponed face-to-face classes until a vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available, in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive.