The End-of-School-Year (EOSY) Rites for the current school year will be held from July 10 to 14, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte signed DepEd Order No. 009 series of 2023 entitled “An Order Updating the Multi-Year Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of the K to 12 Basic Education Program End-of-School-Year Rites” dated March 28.

The said issuance guided both public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide in the annual conduct of EOSY rites.

As stated in School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2022-2023, the classes shall formally end on July 07, 2023.

“Each school has the discretion to elect the date for the holding of this year's rites not earlier than July 10 and not later than July 14, 2023,” Duterte said in the issuance.

“Private schools that started earlier and public and private schools with an extended school year due to unforeseen circumstances shall be guided by their approved revised school calendar,” she added.

Focus on resilience

DepEd noted that the annual conduct of the K to 12 Basic Education Program EOSY Rites serves to “commemorate the fruits of the collective effort of the whole school community to provide learners with a holistic preparation to pursue higher education, entrepreneurship, middle-level skills development or employment with increased chance of success.”

“Moreover, these rites are solemn ceremonies of acknowledging learners who have successfully met, or even exceeded curricular requirements, and mark the transition to subsequent stages and specific milestones of the basic education program,” the agency noted.

For SY 2022-2023, the EOSY rites shall focus on the theme: “Gradweyt ng K to 12: Hinubog ng Matatag na Edukasyon” (K to 12 Graduates: Molded through a Resilient Educational Foundation).

The theme, DepEd said, emphasizes that “graduation is not only a celebratory milestone but also a symbol of resilience, agency, and grit of Filipino learners honed by a solid basic education system that is responsive to the changing needs of time.”

“Further, it highlights that every learner's achievement mirrors an education that succeeds amid all difficulties,” DepEd added.

Simple yet meaningful ceremony

As in the previous years, DepEd discouraged “excessive spending, extravagant attire, or extraordinary venue” for the conduct of the Graduation and Moving Up Ceremonies.

The agency also reminded its personnel that they are not allowed to collect any kind of contribution or graduation / moving up fee.

“Graduation and Moving Up Ceremonies should be simple yet meaningful,” DepEd said. “While these rites mark a milestone in the lives of the learners, these should be conducted without excessive spending, extravagant attire, or extraordinary venue,” it added.

Moreover, DepEd stressed that non-academic projects articulated in DO No. 66, s. 2017, entitled Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of Off-Campus Activities such as attendance to field trips, film showing, JS Promenade, and other school events “should not be imposed as requirements for graduation or completion.”

DepEd added that moving up or graduating rites should be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony befitting the graduating students and their families and shall “not be used as a political forum.”

While “toga or sablay” is allowed to be worn as an additional garb, DepEd reiterated that casual or formal wear or school uniform “shall remain as the recommended moving up/graduation attire.”

DepEd also encouraged the full face-to-face conduct of the moving up and graduation ceremonies starting this school year 2022-2023. “Further, the observance of physical distancing and wearing of face mask is no longer mandatory,” it added.

Private Schools, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) offering basic education or any grade level may also opt to adopt the provisions of this DO as the basis in the conduct of their moving up/ graduation ceremonies, DepEd said.