By A week before classes in public schools start, the Department of Education (DepEd) has recorded over 16.8 million learners for School Year (SY) 2023-2024.
Based on the latest data from the Learner Information System (LIS) Quick Count for SY 2023-2024 as of Aug. 21, the total number of registered students for the upcoming academic year has reached 16,816,221.
DepEd data also showed that the highest number of registrations is in Region IV-A with 2,858,606 enrollees.
DepEd said the enrollment will continue until Aug. 26.
School opening concerns
To address concerns related to the opening of the incoming school year on Aug. 29, DepEd has also reactivated its Oplan Balik Eskwela – Public Assistance Command Center (OBE – PACC).
The PACC, which was set up at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, formally started its operations on Aug. 15 along with the national launch of the 2023 Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE).
The OBE-PACC aims to “cater to concerns, complaints, and requests of education stakeholders related to enrollment and other school opening preparations.”
Among the tasks of the OBE-PACC is to disseminate and clarify DepEd policies, programs, projects, and processes — particularly those relevant to the opening of classes — and “correctly identifying and coordinating concerns with the concerned office for appropriate actions.”
The OBE-PACC serves as an “information and complaints processing and routing mechanism” which will receive, process, and respond to simple queries, information requests, and complaints from the general public, including those forwarded by other DepEd offices.
The OBE-PACC will also assist in the dissemination and clarification of DepEd policies, programs, projects, and processes, particularly those relevant to the opening of classes, and correctly identify and coordinate with the concerned DepEd offices on complex concerns that will require the specific office’s appropriate action.
Moreover, it will monitor, document, and submit reports on all issues and concerns received by the local OBE-PACC units — including the action taken.
The public may reach the OBE-PACC through these channels:
Telephone (Area Code: 02)
8633-1942; 8635-9817
8638-7529; 8634-0222
8638-7530; 8638-8641
8638-7531
Call or Text
0919-456-0027 (SMART)
0995-921-8461 (GLOBE)