June 10, 2021
By Geo Niko Villarta
The Department of Education (DepEd) will not allow face to face graduation rites to ensure the protection and safety of learners, parents, teachers, and other personnel.
In a memorandum dated May 24, 2021, DepEd suggested virtual End-Of-School-Year (EOSY) rites that will run in less than two hours to consider the internet connectivity of the participants.
Schools will have the discretion whether or not to broadcast the virtual graduation rites on their selected social media platforms after consulting the parents and learners.
School Year 2020-2021 will end on July 10, 2021 and schools are expected to conduct their graduation rites from July 12-16, 2021.
To graduating students like Eva Tangonan, DepEd had no choice and the move was the safest one.
“Ngayon kasi na hindi pa naman as in nawawala yung COVID and malaki pa rin yung possibility na magkaroon ng cases dito sa atin. Okay na rin siguro if hindi face to face yung graduation kasi para din naman sa safety ng students and teachers. Tiyaka wala naman siguro mababago kung virtual, gagraduate pa rin naman kami kaya okay lang for me,” Tangonan said
(Right now, COVID is still there and there is still a high chance of having cases here. If the graduation rites will not be face to face, that’s okay because the safety of students and teachers must be considered. Besides, virtual or not, nothing will change, we’d still graduate.)
“Ito lamang ‘yong magagawa natin to compromise with the situation. Madaming magulang na nanghihinayang dahil hindi nila makikitang magmamartsa ang kanilang mga anak sa stage, pero wala tayong magagawa. Kailangan nating isipin ang kapakanan ng nakararami,” said Arnold Guevarra, a grade 6 adviser.
(This is the only thing that we can do to compromise with the situation. Parents are sad that they cannot see their children marching on the stage but we cannot do anything about it. We need to think of the safety of the people.)
“Mahalaga talaga ‘yong safety ng mga mag-aaral at guro. Hindi nga nag face to face classes tapos ‘tong graduation magkakaroon ng mass gathering? Napakadelikado,” Cindy Pajarillo, a graduating student said.
(The safety of students and teachers is important. We did not even have face to face classes and then for graduation there will be mass gatherings? It’s too risky.)
Last year, teachers all over the country leveled up the graduation rites considering the health protocols amid the pandemic.
Teachers went from house to house to give the certificate and medals of the students who met the curriculum requirements for their year level.
Some teachers brought with them tarpaulins and few designs and backgrounds for the picture taking. SYNC IN
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