Postponement of school activities due to nCoV covers off-campus proms

Junior-senior proms that will be held outside school grounds is covered by the Department of Education's Memorandum No. 15, which postpone all national and regional activities for learners and/or teachers in February.

The memorandum was issued as part of the government's precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

“National events and activities, regional events and activities na isinama namin doon sa DepEd memo, including off-campus activites like educational tours and field trips ay suspended pa rin at this time,” Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua said.

“If the Junior-Senior Prom is scheduled within the month, then it falls within off-campus activity, lalong-lalo na kung gagawin sa hotel, lalong-lalo na kung medyo intimate,” he added.

Pascua said that proms may be allowed by school officials if they would be held on campus with no outside guests.

“February yung JS Prom, sa loob ng school, let’s leave that to the school administrator," Pascua said.

"They can assess. If the school, if there’s no exposure of the area or the school to the virus and then there will be no guest, no other people coming from the outside, i think it can be allowed,” he added.

As for graduation ceremonies and graduation balls, Pascua said these were often scheduled in March or April.

“So let’s see on a weekly basis kung ano yung magiging situation. Kung ok ba, na-contain na ba ang virus, then puwede nating ituloy yung mga activities," Pascua said.

"Pero kung hindi pa, based on advise ng Department of Health, then suspended pa rin siya,” he added. —NB, GMA News