DepEd not in favor of granting students automatic passing mark

The Department of Education today opposed recommendations to end the school year and give all students passing mark.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones told reporters the said recommendations go against the objectives of the department.

“Hindi kami sang-ayon sa ideya na itodo pasa ang mga bata dahil nagagawa na ito dati sa ibang mga okasyon, sa ibang krisis at nakita naman natin sa ngayon ang resulta nitong mga desisyon na ito na basta na lang ipapasa ang mga bata," she said.

"Ang administrasyon na ito, hindi mag-a-advocate ng automatic passing. Hindi tayo nag-a-advocate ng mass promotion dahil 'yan, labag 'yan sa ating mga objectives,” Briones added.

Classes in Metro Manila have been suspended until March 14 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

But outside Metro Manila, final exams for graduating Grade 6 and Grade 12 students are scheduled Thursday and Friday.

Final exams for other grade levels, on the other hand, are scheduled next week.

“Sa Grade 6 at Grade 12, magkaroon sila ng examinations on Thursday and Friday. Ang mga school ang mag-schedule nito so that mako-control ang size ng classes na pupunta. But this is only for the graduating classes,” Briones clarified.

Aa for the exams for other grade levels, “Kailangan staggered. Nasa mga eskuwelahan 'yan paano nila i-stagger ang schedule sa examinations, the Education chief added.

DepEd will also leave it to the schools to hold graduation rites, but with strict observance of health guidelines to avert the spread of the virus.

"Kung kaya nilang i-implement strictly ang DOH guidelines sa health, di magpatuloy sila ng graduation, at gagawa sila ng lahat na paraan para maco-contain ang size ng crowd,” Briones said.

The secretary said schools may opt to have the graduations ceremonies in batches or impose a limit on guests to one to two per student.

Ahead of the president's directive, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco has suspended classes at all levels in the city in an effort to stave off the spread of the virus.

Tiangco asked the DepEd to consider the students as "passed" for the school year, instead of making them return to school and exposing them to possible infection. —LDF, GMA News