MANILA Philippines -- The usual first-day campus chaos is expected when most classes open Monday, with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) expecting over 28 million enrollees despite the tuition increase being collected by various schools.

On the basic education level, the DepEd is expecting 25.7 million kindergarten and elementary pupils and high school students in both public and private schools, including the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Latest estimate from DepEd showed that 22.5-million students will troop to 55,230 public elementary and high schools, while the remaining 3.56-million students will go to 9,995 private schools nationwide.

On the tertiary (college) level, the CHEd expects 2.6-million college students to troop to 1,792 higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide.

For the past three years, this school year marked the highest number of kindergarten enrollment with 1.93-million in public schools and 470,000 in private schools. This can be attributed to the implementation of the Universal Kindergarten Program, the initial phase of DepEd’s Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program.

Elementary enrollment will also be at its peak with 14.25-million pupils in public schools and 1.22-million in private schools. High school enrollment is also expected to increase with 5.85-million students in public schools and 1.88-million in private schools.

Based on the trend, there is an estimated increase of almost two-million students every school year. In school year 2009-2010, the total number of students, including kindergarten and elementary pupils and high school students, was 22 million, wherein 19.02 million were enrolled in public schools, while the remaining 2.98 million went to private schools.

In that same year, kindergarten enrollment stood at 1.25-million pupils, wherein 0.81-million went to public schools, and 0.44-million enrolled in private schools. Elementary enrollment was 13.92 million with 12.79 million in public schools, and 1.13 million in private schools.

Meanwhile, high school enrollment stood at 6.83 million–5.42-million students in public schools, and 1.41-million students, in private schools.

In school year 2010-2011, the total number of students was 23.43 million on the kindergarten, elementary, and high school levels. A total of 20.17 million trooped to public schools, while 3.26-million students enrolled in private schools. The kindergarten enrollment was 1.33 million – with 0.88 million in public schools, and 0.45 million, in private schools.

The elementary enrollment totaled 14.61 million, with 13.44 million in public and 1.17 million in private schools. High school enrollment was at 7.10 million with 5.65 million in public, and 1.45 million in private schools.

On the college level, based on the Summary of Tertiary Enrollment released by CHEd, a total of 2, 660, 963 students are expected to enroll in various discipline groups which include enrollees in pre-baccalaureate, baccalaureate, post- baccalaureate, master of arts, and doctorate programs.

 Classes in most private colleges and universities are set to reopen by June 13. Enrollment in 2010-2011 dropped to 2,635,007, compared to 2,770,985 enrollees in 2009-2010.

Data from CHEd also showed that the top five discipline groups for preferred courses in the past three years remain the same, which include business administration and related courses, medical and allied courses, education and teacher training, engineering and technology, and information technology.

For this school year, projected enrollment for business administration and related courses is 639,016 students; medical and allied courses, 420,979; education and teacher training, 374,717; engineering and technology, 325,443; and information technology, 327,536.

Based on CHEd enrollment for 2009 to 2010, the top 10 popular courses include nursing, hotel and restaurant management, information and technology, business administration, elementary education, computer science, criminology, accountancy, industrial technology, and maritime transportation.

However, with the implementation of the moratorium on the so-called “over-subscribed” courses, CHEd chairperson Patricia Licuanan is expecting a gradual decrease in enrollment in the top five preferred courses that include nursing, hotel and restaurant management (HRM), teacher education, information technology ( IT, and Business Administration. CHEd has also included Maritime among the courses with oversupply of graduates.

When it comes to CHEd priority disciplines, enrollment for 2011-2012 in agricultural, forestry, fisheries courses, and veterinary medicine, 70,507; architectural and town planning is 21,417; education and teacher training is 374,717; engineering and technology is 325,443; information technology is 327,538; maritime is 76,079, mathematics, 12,440, medical and allied courses, 420,979, and natural science, 25,184.

For this school year, a total of 324 private HEIs and almost 200 private elementary and high schools – 168 in Metro Manila – are set to implement tuition increase.

To assist concerned individuals by providing them helpful information, handling complaints, the DepEd has set up its “Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Information and Action Center Task Force” (IAC).

The OBE-IAC will close June 10 at the DepEd Central Office with hotlines 636-1663, 633-1942, 634-0222, 636-4880, 635-0552, 637-4211, 635-6550, 638-7529, 635-9817, 638-7530 and 637-3743; 09194560027 for text messages and action@deped.gov.ph for email.

 In Malacañang, officials ordered concerned government agencies to remain on alert to ensure smooth and safe opening of classes today.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said government agencies and local government units must also keep peace and order for the safety of the students for the entire school year.

“To all officials and agencies concerned, just make sure that the opening of classes goes smoothly and the students are secured not just for the first day of the school year but for the rest of the school year,” Valte said over government radio.

To help ensure the smooth opening of classes, Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Eduardo SL. Oban, Jr. has ordered the deployment of troops in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, especially in remote areas in the countryside.

Oban said this is in the furtherance of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan”, which advocates for a people-centered and whole of nation approach towards achieving a just and lasting peace for the country. (With reports from Genalyn D. Kabiling and Elena L. Aben)