Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Davao Region, confirmed that face-to-face recognition and graduation rites are still prohibited in the region.
“As of the moment we are not approving any applications for End-Of-School Year (EOSY) rites pending the issuance of the guideline,” Atillo told media during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday.
Atillo explained that if there is no guideline, DepEd 11 will not approve any requests specifically from the private schools to implement F2F recognition, graduation, moving-up ceremonies.
“Because the guideline really will tell us the specifics on how to conduct it (EOSY),” he said.
He said DepEd 11 received a lot of applications from the private schools and all of these are being denied.
“There is also a gray area with respect to that because there are schools that are not conducting the F2F learning modality but are now requesting for the F2F graduation or EOSY rites. That is why we wanted this to be clarified by our very own DepEd central office by way of a guideline,” he said.
Atillo said DepEd 11 will just reconsider its position or decision if the guideline that will be released will be approving the end-of-school year rites for F2F conduct.
“We will reconsider the position but as of current we are saying that we are denying all the applications,” he said.
In an advisory issued in March this year, DepEd announced it is set to allow physical EOSY rites in schools located in Alert Level 1 and 2 areas.
It also announced that limited F2F graduation will be allowed for schools in Alert Level 1 and 2 areas, in consultation with the LGU, schools, and community learning centers (CLCs) with strict compliance with IATF protocols.
For schools in Alert Level 3, 4, and 5, DepEd said it will only allow virtual EOSY rites. Schools may broadcast live the virtual EOSY rites through an appropriate social media platform.
Schools nationwide are set to conduct EOSY rites from June 27 to July 2, 2022, following the end of the school year on June 24, 2022, while private schools may implement the schedule as reflected in their respective school calendars.
However, schools, divisions, or regions with an extended school year due to suspension of classes shall be guided by their approved revised school calendar.
