(PNA file photo) MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday that 2,571,170 learners have already preregistered nationwide for school year 2021-2022. In an infographic released by the DepEd, 978,300 learners were enrolled in Grade 1; 566,374 in Kindergarten; 551,281 in Grade 7; and 475,215 in Grade 11, as of April 25. Figures also showed the highest preregistration record in Region 4-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), with 257,849 learners. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones earlier urged parents to avoid long lines and preregister their kids immediately for them to come up with adequate data needed for efficient planning and preparation for blended learning. The DepEd's target early registrants is over 7.35 million. Some 28,674,298 million Kinder to Grade 12 (K-12) enrollees are eyed for the next school year. Meanwhile, the DepEd has also recorded 25,786 participating schools in the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes, 25,122 of which