THE Department of Education (Deped)-Davao clarified that as of Wednesday, March 11, there is no suspension yet of school activities in the region except for local government units (LGUs) who ordered the suspension of classes and other academic rites.
“We are not actually suspending the graduation and moving-up rites. That’s the general rule now as of the moment because as I said, everything might change in a little while depending upon the national situation,” Deped-Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said in a press forum on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
DepEd-Davao has scheduled graduation and moving up ceremonies on April 13 to 17 in all public schools.
In Davao City, there is no declaration yet of suspension of classes.
Some of the local government units (LGUs) who suspended classes following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the region are Panabo City, Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal, and Santo Tomas.
The Davao City National High School announced Wednesday that “all students are advised not to come to school starting March 17 until further notice. Teachers, however, shall continue reporting to school.”
Private schools, according to Atillo, can have their own schedule of graduation and moving-up ceremonies provided that they have completed the 203 calendar days and all their school responsibilities are through.
In Davao City, Ateneo de Davao University has postpone all their graduation, recognition, and moving-up ceremonies as precautionary measures. This developed after a consultation with their stakeholders.
“Each unit, from Grade School to the College of Law, will announce its new schedules of commencement exercises after the public health emergency is over. The University looks forward to celebrating its students’ achievements soon,” the school said in a statement.
San Pedro College-Basic Education (SPC-BED) also issued a memorandum on the cancellation of the moving up ceremony of the kindergarten and recognition day of the preschool levels on March 20; moving up ceremony of grade 10 on March 31; and recognition day of the undergraduates on April 3.
In line with Presidential Proclamation No. 922 and in compliance to DepEd Memorandum No. 34 series of 2020, DepEd-Davao issued Regional Guidelines on School Activities to school division superintendent, assistant schools division superintendent, functional division chiefs, public school district supervisors, and school heads.
They are directed to accelerate calendar of activities and to conduct the 4th Quarter Examination the earliest possible time.
Part of the memorandum is the establishment of Online Learning Mechanisms and Systems for any completion activities required, like written works, learning area performance tasks and any culminating activities, etc.
Earlier, Deped already suspended all off-campus activities as part of their precautionary measure and schools are advised to observe heightened precautionary measures in all their jurisdiction to ensure the safety of the students.