ILOILO City – After three years, public and private schools all over the Philippines will be able to conduct full, in-person end-of-school-year and graduation ceremonies.
Observing physical distancing and wearing of facemask are also not mandatory.
Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 009, series of 2023, issued on March 28, 2023 by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, updated the multi-year implementing guidelines on the conduct of the K to 12 Basic Education Program End-of-School-Year Rites.
The school year 2022-2023 end-of-school-year rites will have the theme, “Gradwyt ng K to 12: Hinubog ng Matatag na Edukasyon” (K to 12 Graduates: Molded through a Resilient Educational Foundation).
According to Hernani Escullar Jr., DepEd-6 information officer, these are the following policies reiterated by DepEd on the conduct of graduation rites:
* discouraging excessive spending, extravagant attire, or extraordinary venues for the conduct of graduation and moving-up ceremonies;
* prohibiting any DepEd personnel from collecting any kind of contribution or graduation/moving-up fee;
* prohibition of electioneering and partisan political activity; and
* private schools, higher education institutions, technical vocational institutions, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges offering basic education or any grade level thereof may opt to adopt the provisions of this Department Order as the basis for the conduct of their moving-up/graduation ceremonies.
Procedures for the conduct of full in-person end-of-school-year rites:
* In the annual conduct of full, in-person end-of-school-year rites, observance of physical distancing shall no longer be mandatory.
* The wearing of a facemask during the ceremonies is not required and shall be left to the discretion of the learners and their parents.
Based on the school calendar and activities for the school year 2022-2023, the classes shall formally end on July 7, 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.
Private schools that start earlier and public and private schools with an extended school year due to unforeseen circumstances shall be guided by their approved revised school calendar.
The kindergarten level will hold a moving-up ceremony, Grade 6 students will have a graduation ceremony, and Grade 10 students will have a moving-up ceremony, said Escullar.
Last year, in-person graduation was conducted but with limitations, such as the attendees allowed being only the learners and their parents or guardians.
“Kon tan-awon naton, we were ready sa pag-implement sadto sang limited in-person graduation. There were schools last year nga naghimu sang in-person and may virtual pa gani ang iban. How much more subong nga tuig nga starting sang ligad nga November nagbalik na kita sa full in-person classes,” added Escullar.
Schools were given enough time to prepare for the end-of-school-year rites this year because the guidelines were released as early as last March, said Escullar.
The division offices, he added, are ready to assist schools in the conduct of graduation rites./PN