Low enrolment turnout forces STI to close 12 schools amid COVID-19 pandemic

STI Education Services Group Inc. has shut seven of its schools and suspended the operations of five others, due to the low enrollment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a regulatory filing to the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp., STI said it decided to cease operations of the following STI schools or education schools:

• STI College Bohol Inc;
• STI College Recto Inc.;
• Sungold Technologies Inc.;
• STI College Pasay Inc.;
• STI College Dipolog Inc.;
• STI College San Francisco Inc.; and
• STI College Parañaque Inc.

Meanwhile, the following schools suspended operations:

• STI Cebu;
• STI Iloilo;
• STI Quezon Avenue;
• STI Tuguegarao;
• STI Pagadian.

"STI ESG determined that continuing the operations of these schools was no longer viable due to low enrolment turnout and the high cost of facility rental," the disclosure read.

To recall, the Department of Education (DepEd) earlier moved the opening of the school year 2020-2021 to October 5 from August 24, due to difficulties brought about by the health crisis.

Data from DepEd said there have been over 24 million students that have enrolled for the upcoming school year.

However, those from the poor and marginalized sectors have expressed concern over the shift to blended learning, given the difficulty to afford a stable internet connection and the lack of the necessary gadgets.

The DepEd has since rolled out television programs to aid in distance learning for students, with 27 professional teachers hired to serve as broadcasters. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News