ILOILO City – Physical contact is prohibited during in-person graduation ceremonies for school year 2021-2022.
This prohibition is a preventive measure against the possible transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among students, parents teachers and guests, said Hernani Escullar, information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6.
“Usually mag-end of school year rites naga-beso-beso kita, nagakupo and may yara sang handshake. This time gina-discourage naton ini,” said Escullar.
On May 10, DepEd released Memorandum Order No. 43, Series of 2022 setting the guidelines in the conduct of K to 12 Basic Education Program End-of-School-Year Rites from June 27 until July 2.
DepEd allows limited face-to-face graduation rites in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2 but these must be done in consultation with local government unit.
Also, learners attending the rites must secure their parents’ consent.
In areas under Alert Levels 3, 4 and 5, on the other hand, the graduation rites are virtual.
Other health safety measures that must be observed during in-person graduation ceremonies are as follows:
* wearing of facemask throughout the rites
* physical distancing (at least one meter apart)
* occupy only the designated seats
* only parents or one designated guardian shall be permitted to accompany a mover or candidate for graduation
According to Escullar, the theme for this school year’s graduation rites is “Gradweyt ng K to 12: Masigasig sa mga Pangarap at Matatag sa mga Pagsubok” (K to 12 Graduates: Pursuing Dreams and Fostering Resilience in the Face of Adversity).
There are 2,102,865 learners in Region 6, both in private and public schools, state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges.
Classes for school year 2021-2022 both in public and private schools started on Sept. 13, 2021 and would end on June 24, 2022./PN
