‘Enrollment in the region declines 7.5% in 3 years; Main causes are poverty, teen pregnancy and access issues’ - Dep-Ed CAR

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) has attributed the continuing decline in student enrollment to poverty, limited access to schools, teenage pregnancy, and weak parental supervision, as the region recorded a loss of 33,809 learners over the past three years.

Data presented by DepEd-CAR showed that the region reached a peak enrollment of 447,986 learners in School Year 2021–2022. Since then, enrollment has declined by about 7.5 percent, dropping to 401,178 learners in School Year 2025–2026.

Despite the downward trend, DepEd-CAR is projecting a total enrollment of 390,543 learners in public and private schools for School Year 2026–2027.

During a press conference on June 2, Regional Director Nicolas T. Capulong said several factors continue to contribute to the decline in enrollment across the region, particularly among learners in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Among the primary reasons cited were poverty, limited access to schools, and teenage pregnancy, which continue to affect both elementary and secondary learners.

“One of the reasons is the accessibility of schools. Marami tayong mga bayan na may elementary subalit walang high school, mga bata po natin naglalakad at napapagod na siguro kaya nawawalan na silang ganang mag-aral. Isa rin po yung poverty, marami sa mga magulang po nating konti ang kinikita nila, tumutulong na lang ang mga mag-aaral sa pagsasaka or naghahanap ng trabaho to augment the family income. Meron po tayong cases ng teenage pregnancies, these are the reasons why students opted not to go to schools anymore,” Capulong said.

According to Capulong, some students are forced to walk long distances to reach secondary schools, while others leave school to help support their families through farming or employment.

Meanwhile, officials from the Policy and Planning Division also identified weak parental supervision and parental absence as contributing factors, particularly among elementary learners.

They noted that some children are left under the care of relatives or grandparents while their parents work elsewhere, affecting student participation, attendance, and retention in school.

Education officials said the findings highlight the need for stronger interventions aimed at improving access to education, supporting struggling families, and addressing social issues that continue to keep learners out of school.