While this year will be the first time that limited in-person graduation and end-of-school-year (ESOY) rites are allowed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded that the conduct of any related activity should remain “simple and dignified.”
DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio, in an interview over DZRH on Wednesday, May 25, said that just like in previous graduation and EOSY rites before the pandemic, the ceremonies should be conducted solemnly.
“Dapat hindi magarbo, (It should not be excessively grand), dignified at (and) simple lang at kahit tapos na ang (and even if elections are over), hindi magandang ang (it is not good if the) ceremony ay maging (becomes a) political platform,” San Antonio said.
In Memorandum No. 43 s. of 2022 issued May 10, DepEd has set the guidelines on the conduct of graduation rites in basic education for SY 2021-2022.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first time that DepEd will allow face-to-face graduation ceremonies and other EOSY activities.
As stated in the DepEd memo, schools and other community learning centers located in Alert Levels 1 and 2 areas are allowed to conduct limited face-to-face EOSY rites and graduation ceremonies.
The set-up, DepEd said, maybe a “hybrid ceremony” where a limited number of participants will be allowed to physically attend while the others will attend the event online or via live streaming.
DepEd allowed limited face-to-face EOSY and graduation rites to give students a “sense of normalcy without risking their health and safety.”
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/25/deped-on-the-conduct-of-in-person-graduation-eosy-rites-comply-with-the-existing-protocols/
Should the school choose to hold hybrid ceremonies, DepEd said that they must consult their respective LGUs first as well as the parents of the attendees.
“Schools must obtain parental consent for learners to attend the face-to-face ceremony,” the agency stressed.
During the conduct of limited in-person ceremonies, DepEd said that the following rules and Covid-19 protocols must be strictly complied with:
- face masks must be worn throughout the entire event
- a one-meter safe distance must be observed between individuals
- participants must be seated at their assigned seats only
- a handshake or any other form of physical contact is discouraged
- only the parents or one designated guardian shall be permitted to accompany a mover or candidate for graduation
DepEd said that the SY 2021-2022 is scheduled to end on June 24, thus, graduation and other EOSY rites may be held from June 27 to July 2.
For those schools that suspended their classes to a surge in Covid-19 cases, DepEd said that they can adjust their academic calendars accordingly and may hold the graduation rites between July 4 to 9.
DepEd has chosen the “Gradweyt ng K to 12: Masigasig sa mga Pangarap at Matatag sa mga Pagsubok” to highlight how Filipino students remain “resolute in their desire to build a better future” amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic.