A Catholic bishop in the northern Philippines noted that the coronavirus pandemic has affected enrollment in seminaries.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said the decrease in number is “huge.”
“In my seminary here in Balanga, the Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario College Seminary, [the decline in then number of enrollment] is almost half,” he said.
The seminary, which was opened in 2016, now has only three third year philosophy students; six in the second year, and nine first year seminarians.
Bishop Santos, who serves as rector of the seminary, said some students did not continue their studies to help their families financially especially during the health crisis.
Aside from the seminary, the prelate said diocesan schools are also suffering from the decline in enrollment.
“We have only 80 percent enrollees (in the nine diocesan schools) and there are no enrollees for kindergarten and preparatory school,” said the bishop.
To help teachers and students cope with the situation, the prelate said the diocese granted a 10,000-peso assistance to teachers for the purchase of computers.
Scholarship grants are also being set up in diocesan schools for the children of overseas migrant workers.
“We need to do more sacrifices and be willing to serve and to share our resources,” said Bishop Santos.
