BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Public school enrollment in the Cordillera region is on a downward trend, but the Department of Education-CAR (DepEd-CAR) continues to prioritize inclusive education and ensure access to quality learning for all learners, especially indigenous peoples and those in remote areas.
DepEd-CAR Regional Director Estela L. Cariño said the decline is attributed to several factors, including migration, demographic shifts, and access barriers in remote areas.
On a lighthearted note, she joked that the Department of Health’s population control program worked so well that there are now less number of children to enroll in schools.
For school year 2025-2026, CAR has a total of 401,178 learners under its inclusion efforts, with IP learners comprising the majority at 62.91 percent. The rest are learners in special need education (2.5%), Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners (1.52%), and Muslim learners (0.35%) based in Baguio City, Benguet, Tabuk City, and Abra.
The biggest percentage of overall enrollment belongs to Key Stage 2 (Grades 4-6) at 30.34%, with Grade 7 having the highest enrollment across all levels at 35,360 learners. Basic education offerings remain elementary, junior high school, and senior high school, with 19 schools offering purely senior high school programs.
The region’s total number of schools stands at 2,077, of which 88.83% are public schools. Of these public schools, 81.70% are classified as “very small” with less than 251 enrolled learners, while only four schools are considered “very large.” There are 227 private schools and five state universities and colleges offering basic education.
Cariño underscored that despite decreasing enrollment and other challenges in the education sector, DepEd-CAR remains committed to ensuring quality, inclusive, and resilient learning environment for all learners.
She said DepEd-CAR continues to build strong multi-sectoral support and community participation in addressing facility gaps aggravated by the impact of recent strong tropical cyclones, expanding digital access, and strengthening support systems for all Cordilleran learners. **JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR
