To ensure the safety of learners, their parents as well as the teachers, and other school personnel, the Department of Education (DepEd) has set guidelines for the conduct of in-person end-of-school-year (EOSY) rites.
In a virtual presser on Thursday, April 28, Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said that the end of School Year (SY) 2021-2022 will be on June 24.
Following this, schools may hold their EOSY rites for Kindergarten, Grades 6, 10, 12, and learners under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) from June 27 to July 2.
With the implementation of the progressive expansion of in-person classes, San Antonio explained that limited face-to-face ceremonies for schools under Alert Levels 1 and 2 will be allowed.
However, schools must ensure that the guidelines set by DepEd should be strictly observed and followed during the EOSY rites.
San Antonio said that a “face mask must be worn throughout the entire event” and “at least a one-meter safe distance must be observed between individuals.”
He added that the “participants must be seated at their assigned seats only” and that “handshake or any other forms of physical contact is discouraged.”
“Only the parents or one designated guardian shall be permitted to accompany a mover or candidate for graduation,” San Antonio stressed.
Likewise, San Antonio noted that the schools that are unable to hold in-person EOSY are given discretion to “broadcast live the virtual end-of-school year rites through an appropriate social media platform.”
For schools that will hold limited in-person EOSY, San Antonio said that they need to “obtain parental consent for learners to attend the face-to-face ceremony.”
The decision of the parents, he added, must always be taken into consideration by the schools and DepEd.
Meanwhile, San Antonio said that limited face-to-face EOSY will not be allowed in schools in areas under Alert Levels 3, 4, and 5. These schools, he said, can hold virtual ESOY ceremonies instead.
He also reminded that only the completers, their parents or guardians, teachers, school officials, and guests should be “present during the virtual rites.”
San Antonio explained that some private schools might be holding EOSY already.
Related to this, he reminded these schools must see to it that the ceremonies will not be used as a “political forum” by ensuring that these are conducted in a “solemn and dignified” manner.