Staggered final exams set amid COVID-19 outbreak

DepEd: No automatic passing grade for students

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Leonor Briones yesterday ordered school officials to implement staggered fourth quarter examinations per grade level next week as part of social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Briones said this is to reduce the number of students in schools per day.

There will be no automatic passing mark for students despite the threat of COVID-19, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

“The teachers must communicate with their students on pointers to review for the exams. They may also opt to work from home,” the DepEd said. “Students should go back to school next week (March 16 to 20) on the day of their respective examination schedules.”

Classes in Metro Manila and some provinces were suspended this week following the rising cases of COVID-19.

The DepEd said essential competencies specified in the curriculum are expected to have been covered as the school year is about to end.

In public schools without class suspensions, the agency said teachers should use the remaining days of the week to catch up with class requirements and scheduling of the staggered tests.

“After the fourth quarter examinations have been taken, additional school requirements should be done as home-based assignments,” the DepEd said.

“Should the public health emergency situation prevent coming to school as outlined above, the department will issue guidelines for the evaluation of the final grades of the students,” the DepEd added.

Moving up, graduation rites

Education officials gave schools the discretion to schedule their moving up and graduation rites between April 13 and 17.

“Should the public health situation prevent the holding of graduation and moving up ceremonies, the schools, in consultation with the Parent-Teacher Associations, may choose to reschedule or forgo the holding of such,” the DepEd said.