Western Visayas Public School Enrollment Drops
ILOILO CITY – Enrollment in public schools across the Western Visayas region has fallen below one million students for the school year 2025-2026. This decline comes after the exclusion of Negros Occidental province from the region’s count, local leaders noted.
The Department of Education in Region 6 (DepEd-6) reported an initial enrollment of 905,494 students, a sharp decrease from the 1.4 million recorded in the 2024-2025 school year. DepEd-6 Information Officer Hernani Escular Jr. explained that enrollment figures for Negros Occidental are now included under the newly formed Negros Island Region (NIR), which also includes Negros Oriental.
Enrollment Breakdown by Grade Levels
As of June 16, the region has enrolled 462,305 students in kindergarten and elementary levels. High school enrollment stands at 297,044, while senior high school has 146,145 enrollees. These numbers reflect the overall student population in Western Visayas excluding Negros Occidental.
Provincial Enrollment Figures
Iloilo province leads with the highest number of enrollees, totaling 384,283 students. This includes 364,171 students from its 42 towns and 20,112 from the component city of Passi. Iloilo City itself recorded 86,485 enrollees.
Capiz province follows with 142,776 students, divided between 111,324 in 16 towns and 31,452 in Roxas City, the provincial capital. Enrollment in Aklan province reached 126,303 students, Antique recorded 124,804, and Guimaras had 40,843 students.
Peaceful Start to School Year
The opening of the 2025-2026 school year proceeded smoothly and peacefully throughout Western Visayas, sources said. Educators and officials remain optimistic about addressing the challenges posed by the enrollment shifts.
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