In-person graduation 'possible' with eased COVID-19 restrictions, DepEd says

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Feb. 11, said that the conduct of face-to-face graduation ceremonies and other school-based activities remains a possibility given the improvements in the country’s public health situation.

“It will also depend on the level of relaxation of face-to-face protocols,” Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan during the “Laging Handa” public briefing said when asked to comment on the possibility of allowing in-person graduation events and other activities for students.

“That’s a public health decision that we have to do a consultation with the Department of Health but kung tuloy-tuloy ito, hindi malayo na iyan ay maging posibilidad na (but if will continue, this remains a possibility),” Malaluan said.

Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country, students have been prohibited from attending face-to-face activities such as graduation rites since 2020.

The pandemic also forced DepEd to adjust the school calendar in public schools.

For School Year (SY) 2021-2022, public schools opened in September 2021 and will close in June 2022.

“Medyo malayo-layo pa naman iyong ating graduation (Graduation is still a bit far away),” Malaluan said.

DepEd, he explained, is currently more focused on the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes and other school-based activities.

However, Malaluan mentioned that face-to-face conduct of school-based activities was included in DepEd’s recommendation to the President.

“In our written report, we requested for the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes and school-based activities... and of course, graduation is a school-based activity and there are other school-based activities that we can include,” Malaluan said.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/11/deped-expects-more-schools-to-join-the-expansion-phase-of-face-to-face-classes/