The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday reported that 18,239,528 students have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide as of July 6.

Of the number, 17,401,529 were enrolled in public schools and 818,137 were enrolled in private schools.

DepEd had extended the enrollment period to July 15, as the number of enrollees remained below its projections.

“Hindi po dapat matigil ang ating edukasyon. Bagama’t mayroong Covid-19 , mayroon naman blended lessons na gagawin,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing.

Modular, online and radio/television learning will replace face-to-face classes in school year 2020-2021 as the government said no physical classes would be conducted without a Covid-19 vaccine.

Public school classes will start on Aug. 24. John Ezekiel J. Hirro