The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, March 11, said that schools may adopt a “hybrid” setup when it comes to the end-of-school-year (EOSY) rites this School Year (SY) 2021-2022.

“May mga lugar na papayagan natin na mag-physical graduation sila at may mga lugar lalo na yung nasa Level 3, ay talagang hindi natin iyan papayagan (There are places that we will allow them to do physical graduation and there are places, especially those in Level 3, we really will not allow that,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a virtual presser.

Assistant Secretary Alma Torio, in the same briefing, also explained that schools may adopt a “hybrid” EOSY rites aside from face-to-face or virtual set up depending on their location.

Torio, on the other hand, reminded that schools must consult the parents and their respective local government units (LGUs) on the mode of EOSY rites they intend to hold in light of the Covid-19 public health emergency.

Torio explained that EOSY rites are for Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 10, and Grade 12 learners who met the curriculum requirements including the learners who passed the portfolio assessment in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Elementary and Junior High School Levels.

For this SY, DepEd has set the theme, “K to 12 Graduates: Pursuing Dreams and Fostering Resilience in the Face of Adversity” for the EOSY rites.

Torio explained that the current school year will end on June 24, 2022.

Given this, the EOSY rites should be to be conducted within the week of June 27 to July 2, 2022.

For schools, divisions, or regions with an extended school year due to suspension of classes, Torio said that they should be “guided by their approved revised school calendar.”

For those who had one-week class suspensions, the EOSY rites should be held within the week of July 4 to 9, 2022.

For schools with two weeks class suspensions, Torio said that EOSY rites should be held within the week of July 11 to 16, 2022.

Torio explained that DepEd has proposed to hold a limited face-to-face ceremony for schools in Alert Levels 1 and 2. For areas in other alert levels, she said that schools may hold a virtual ceremony.

“The virtual conduct of the EOSY rites may be an option for schools,” Torio said.

However, Torio stressed that only the completers, their parents or guardians, teachers, school officials, and guests shall be present at the virtual rites.

Torio also explained that the schools have the discretion to broadcast live the virtual EOSY rites but only through an “appropriate social media platform.”