CHED encourages online graduation rites

MANILA, Philippines —With restrictions on mass gatherings in place amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), schools are being encouraged to consider alternative graduation ceremonies such as doing it online, even as moving the opening of classes later in the year for elementary and high school levels is being mulled.

“We encourage higher education institutions (HEIs) to use alternative graduation ceremonies such as doing it online or moving it to an alternative date in the future when the threat of COVID-19 (will have) been addressed,” Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said yesterday.

Last Monday, De Vera issued a new advisory allowing tertiary institutions using the old academic calendar to finish their current semester by April 30. These HEIs may use a combination of flexible learning options to assess their students.

While the semester may end at these institutions, in-person graduation ceremonies are discouraged, given the continuing need for social distancing and the restrictions on mass gatherings.

Meanwhile, HEIs using the new academic calendar were authorized to extend the current semester up to a maximum of one month after the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine.

Midterm or summer classes are allowed only for graduating students completing requirements, students whose subjects are scheduled in the summer or those taking graduate studies.

On the issue regarding mass promotions or giving all students passing marks, De Vera said the matter should be addressed at the university level.

The Ateneo de Manila University had earlier announced an early end to its current semester, with all of its enrolled college students getting passing marks on all subjects.

Students at the University of the Philippines are also pushing for a similar policy.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) is currently consulting with various stakeholders on the possible changes to the schedule of the opening of classes, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

“We are studying very carefully… because it will have implications,” Briones said in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News yesterday.

“If we move the calendar year to July or August, they will be extending all the way to summer next year. Our schools are not really built for summer classes,” she added.

Under existing rules, classes in public elementary and high schools should begin on the first Monday of June.

Changes to the school calendar would be announced on the last week of April or early next month, said Briones.