DepEd mulls allowing exams in schools amid COVID-19 pandemic, official says

The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering allowing the conduct of examinations in schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma on Monday.

"Sa ngayon, inaayos pa natin yung ating guidelines para po diyan. Pero bukod po sa mga klase, isa po sa tinitignan natin na puwede ring gawin ngayon ay yung pagsasagawa ng mga examination," Garma said when asked if the DepEd is considering conducting graduation ceremonies in campuses.

(Right now, we are still working on the guidelines for that. But aside from classes, one of the activities that we are looking at is the holding of examinations in schools.)

Garma cited as an example the conduct of "large-scale assessments" such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

"For example, yung ating mga large-scale assessment katulad ng PISA o paglahok natin sa PISA. So yan po yung isa sa mga kinokonsidera na puwede na po nating gawin sa loob ng eskwelahan," he said.

(For example, our large-scale assessment like PISA or our participation in PISA. That is one of the activities that we are considering that we can do in schools.)

Asked about the DepEd’s timeline for this, Garma said they are still working on schedules as these activities will be done in batches. According to him, it may start this March.

Due to the threat of COVID-19 in 2020, the DepEd has implemented distance learning where students do not need to go to campuses to continue their studies. Under this setup, students only have to accomplish and submit learning modules or join online classes.

In November 2021, the pilot testing of face-to-face classes started in select schools in several areas in the country.

On Sunday, the DepEd said 6,925 schools all over the country are ready to participate in the "progressive expansion" phase of face-to-face classes. Of this number, 6,122 schools have already resumed limited in-person.  —KBK, GMA News