JUST IN: DepEd clarifies order, says Grade 6 completers to have graduationContrary to its earlier announcement, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday clarified that graduation ceremonies will not just cover qualified Senior High School (SHS) students but Grade 6 pupils as well.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 25 series of 2019 dated March 1, 2019 on graduation ceremonies for grade 6 completers in School Year (SY) 2018-2019.
The new memorandum, Briones said, “clarifies that the end of school year rites for Grade 6 completers this school year 2018-2019 shall be a graduation ceremony” as stated in DepEd Order No. 2 series of 2019 issued last February 18.
Briones explained that the “moving-up ceremony instead of graduation ceremony for Grade 6 is under discussion” by DepEd’s Executive Committee. “Should this be approved, DepEd assured all concerned that this will be announced with sufficient lead time,” she added.
Meanwhile, Briones extended apologies ”for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.”
ConfusionEarlier, Briones issued DepEd Order 002 series of 2019 or the SY 2018-2019 K to 12 Basic Education Program End of School Year (EOSY) Rites to DepEd key officials, bureau and service directors, regional directors, schools division superintendents and school heads of public and private elementary and secondary school heads, stating that for this school year, only Grade 12 learners from schools with DepEd-approved K to 12 transition plan; schools with permit to operate Senior High School since 2014; and international schools with K to 12 Program can hold graduation ceremonies.
In the same DO, Briones noted that Kindergarten, Grades 6 and 10 undergo “moving up” or “completion” exercises. Kindergarten learners will receive Kindergarten Certificate; Grade 6 learners will receive Elementary Certificate; Grade 10 learners will receive Junior High School (JHS) Certificate and the SHS graduates will get SHS Diploma.
Citing inputs from DepEd’s Curriculum and Instruction, Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla told the MANILA BULLETIN that “there is only one basic education curriculum or program offered by DepEd” – which is the K to 12 Program. Thus, “there is only one graduation at basic education” and that is also from the K to 12 Program. “Hence, only SHSs will conduct graduation rites for qualified grade 12 students,” she added.
Sevilla also noted that the DepEd Order covers not only public schools but also private schools. The offering the K to 12 Program of the DepEd, she added, includes Philippine schools overseas. She noted that a “clarificatory” memorandum will soon be issued to “explain the change.”
Additional information coming from DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Delivery-Teaching and Learning Division (BLD-TLD) also confirmed that this is the first time that there will be no graduation rites for Grade 6 pupils.
However, DepEd recently issued a department order on EOSY rites for SY 2018-2019 citing that graduation ceremonies are now for Grade 6 and Grade 12 qualified learners. Moving-up or completion exercises are still applicable to Kinder and Grade 10 completers.
With theme, “Pagkakaisa sa Pagkakaiba-iba: Kalidad na Edukasyon para sa Lahat” (Unity in Diversity: Quality Education for All), both public and private schools are scheduled to hold their respective end of school year rites not earlier than April 1, 2019 but not later than April 5, 2019 based on DO No. 25, s. 2018 or the “School Calendar for School Year 2018-2019.”
Briones said that schools, divisions, or regions with an extended school year “will have to be guided by their approved revised school calendar.”
