City of San Fernando, Pampanga—The Department of Education Regional Office III calls on all incoming Grade 11 students to enroll in their chosen Senior High School (SHS) before June 3, 2016 to give school heads of public senior high schools ample time to prepare and adjust their respective SHS Program in line with the opening of classes on June 13, 2016.

The (SHS) Enrolment for School Year 2016-2017 in all public secondary schools commenced on May 2, 2016 with the school principals and/or school heads, SHS Focal Persons, and schools division offices, taking the lead role in implementing enrolment activities in their respective localities to ensure universal participation in SHS. Local officials, civic organizations, all regional directors and schools division superintendents have also conducted advocacy campaigns to inform and encourage out of school youth and potential returning learners to enrol in SHS. Youth find activities have also been launched simultaneously with SHS enrolment.

OIC-Regional Director Malcolm S. Garma stressed the importance of the early registration of incoming Grade 11 students in all public and private senior high schools noting that Senior High School is not the same as the Junior High School since each student is required to choose a specific SHS track.

Senior High School covers eight learning areas as part of its core curriculum, and adds specific tracks (similar to college courses) based on four disciplines: Academic (which includes Business, Science & Engineering, Humanities & Social Science, and a General Academic strand); Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (with highly specialized subjects with TESDA qualifications); Sports; and Arts & Design. SHS Students may pick a track based on how he or she will want to proceed after high school graduation.

For those enrolling in private senior high schools, the SHS Voucher Program is intended for completers of Grade 10 who would like to pursue SHS education in private schools, private universities and colleges, local or state universities and colleges offering SHS and technical and vocational institutions offering SHS starting School Year 2016-2017. It provides students with a subsidy that enables them to get a discount on the cost of tuition and other school fees for SHS.•