As nearly 48,000 public schools across the country stage their end-of-school-year (EOSY) ceremonies, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday, March 30, issued a clear challenge to the Class of 2026: sustain the resilience that carried them through basic education and bring it into the uncertainties beyond graduation.

In his message for graduation and moving-up rites for School Year (SY) 2025–2026, Angara framed this year’s milestone not just as an academic endpoint but as a collective triumph shaped by persistence, sacrifice, and community support.

“As we conclude this school year, we do more than close a chapter,” Angara said. “We honor the strength that carried our learners, teachers, and families through months of hard work, sacrifice, and hope,” he added.

Angara underscored that while academic achievement remains essential for higher education and employment, it is the less tangible qualities—discipline, compassion, and inner strength—that ultimately determine long-term success.

He emphasized that resilience, forged through setbacks and recovery, will prove indispensable in navigating future challenges.

“You stayed the course and learned to rise after setbacks,” Angara said. “That resilience will matter far beyond the classroom,” he added.

DepEd scheduled EOSY ceremonies for March 30 or 31, directing schools to keep celebrations simple, meaningful, and free of unnecessary expenses. The guidance comes as families face economic pressures, including rising fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East.

This year’s graduation cycle covers approximately 1.9 million Grade 6 completers and 1.8 million Grade 12 graduates from both public and private institutions nationwide, according to DepEd.

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Carrying the theme “Filipino Graduates: Prepared to Lead with Competence and Character,” DepEd said this year’s rites align with the broader education agenda of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which emphasizes producing learners who are not only academically prepared but also guided by integrity and a commitment to public service.

As the Class of 2026 steps beyond the school gates, Angara’s message frames resilience not as a closing chapter but as a lifelong mandate.

In a message that widened the spotlight beyond students, Angara credited the network of support systems—teachers, parents, and families—as central to every learner’s journey.

“Behind every learner’s success stands a community,” Angara said. “To our teachers, thank you for teaching not only lessons but courage. To our parents and families, your support made every achievement possible,” he added.

DepEd said the graduation of this year’s cohort unfolds alongside ongoing reforms in the basic education sector.

These include the refinement of the Revised K to 10 Curriculum and strengthened Senior High School pathways under SY 2025–2026. DepEd added that it has accelerated the rollout of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, designed to close learning gaps, while scaling up support and professional development initiatives for teachers.

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