DepEd cites 'teachers' consideration' as among the reasons why 99% of students got passing marks
Consideration coming from teachers is one of the primary reasons why 99 percent of students were able to get passing marks during the First Quarter of this school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

During the Laging Handa public briefing on Friday, March 5, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said teachers’ consideration might have played a big role many students were able to get passing grades in the previous school quarter.
“Baka po may considerations kaya 99% ang pumasa (There might be considerations coming from teachers that’s why 99 percent passed),” San Antonio said.
Despite this, he noted that this does not mean that all of the students who got passing grades were able to get “high” marks. “The passing rate is from 75 percent above,” San Antonio explained in Filipino.
In Senate Hearing on March 3, DepEd said that some 99.13 percent of the more than 14.6 million public school students were able to obtain passing grades during the first quarter of school year 2020-2021. This data came as a surprise to some senators given the challenges reported under the distance learning set-up.
San Antonio, however, noted that the result of the Quarter 1 passing rates came directly from the regions, schools division offices, and schools.
When classes started this school year, he said that there were calls for DepEd to “automatically pass” all enrolled students given the challenges under the distance learning set-up. “We did not allow this because it does not support what the DepEd stands for, instead, we directed our school to implement academic ease measures,” San Antonio explained.
Teachers, San Antonio said, adhered to the call of DepEd to be more considerate to their students who might be having difficulties adjusting and complying with the academic requirements. “When I was a teacher, I also gave consideration to my students who showed willingness to learn,” he explained.
Recognizing the challenges under distance learning, DepEd also extended the school year until July this year.