Dumaguete: At least 80 percent of learners in public schools in this Negros Oriental capital went back to their classes as the new academic year opened Monday. Officer-in-charge Dr. Juditha Mapue, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) - Dumaguete, noted the active participation of students on the first day.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Juditha Mapue mentioned that some parents were still in the process of enrolling their children for Academic Year 2025-2026. She highlighted the challenges in determining the exact number of enrollees through the Learner Information System (LIS), which requires validation. However, classroom headcounts provide an estimate of the learners present, with numbers expected to rise in the coming week.
The LIS serves as an online platform by DepEd for managing student information and acts as a centralized database system for learners. Dr. Mapue reported that the first day of classes was generally peaceful, supported by observations from DepEd officials who visited schools throughout the capital.
In terms of security, Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office spokesperson Lt. Stephen Polinar stated that the Philippine National Police had directed a 'full deployment on the ground' strategy. He explained that personnel were realigned, with 85 percent assigned to ground duties while 15 percent managed office work.
