About 453,300 kindergarten to high school students are expected to troop back to public schools in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City today as classes for school year 2013-2014 start.

“Students must be present for the first day of classes today,” said Department of Education Regional Director Mildred Garay yesterday.

“Regular classes will start today, the day will not be spent cleaning classrooms,” she said.

Negros Occidental Schools Superintendent Juliet Jeruta also reminded parents not to delay the enrollment of their children.

She reiterated that the last day for enrollment is on June 7, and parents should not wait until the last minute.

In Negros Occidental, Jeruta said, they expect about 350,000 kindergarten, elementary and high school students this school year.

Bacolod Schools Superintendent Gemma Ledesma said they expect 6,300 pupils in pre-school, 64,000 in elementary and 33,000 high school students, or a total of 103,300.

But that is a rough estimate, they will have exact figures when classes actually start, she said.

Police security measures are all in place for the opening of classes in Negros Occidental, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, provincial police director, also said.

He said the police will be at schools to man traffic and ensure the security of those returning to school.

“We will also be fielding plainclothes men and force multipliers, and setting up police assistance desks at schools,” he said.

The police will also conduct symposia at schools against hazing and the use of drugs, and provide crime prevention tips, he said.*CPG

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