Around 22,000 grade 12 students to graduate

The Department of Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd CAR) is reminding public and private schools across the region to observe the government’s austerity program and not use graduation or moving-up ceremonies as political forums.

                In a regional memorandum released this week, the regional line agency urges the conduct of end of school year rites without excessive spending, extravagant attire, or extraordinary venue and to not impose non-academic projects like attendance to field trips, film showing, and junior-senior promenade as requirements before graduation.

                “This memo no. 80, series 2018 is a reiteration of DepEd Order No. 6 released last February 15 that also prompts schools to not allow such occasions be used as political forums,” Regional Director May B. Eclar said.

                She further stressed that any DepEd personnel whether a public school teacher or an administrator is not allowed to collect any graduation/moving up/closing ceremony fees or any kind of contribution and that the annual yearbook, if any, should be on a voluntary basis.

                “Expenses to be incurred during the activity should be charged to the Schools Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) under this year’s budget while other agreements with parents must be in black and white to avoid misinformation and misinterpretations that lead to complaints and issues,” added the regional director.

                This year’s end of school year rites includes the Kindergarten Completion or Moving Up Ceremony, Grade 6 Graduation, Grade 10 Moving Up or Completion, and the Senior High School (SHS) Graduation and revolve around the theme, “Mag-aaral ng K to 12: Handa sa Hamon ng Buhay,” which highlights the role of K to 12 Basic Education Program in harnessing the skills and competencies of the Filipino learners to face life’s challenges.

                This year, the Department will be seeing off its first batch of high school students who have completely gone through the K to 12 program. Based on data as of February this year, a total of 22,472 grade 12 students in this region are expected to graduate from both public and private schools.

                Benguet province has the most number of expected SHS graduates from public and state universities with a total of 2,752 followed by Abra province with 1,850, Tabuk City with 1,353, Mt. Province with 1,147, Ifugao with 1,074, Baguio City with 877, Apayao with 795, and Kalinga with 527.

                On the other hand, the City of Baguio has the most number of grade 12 students from private schools with 7,333 followed by Benguet with 1,713, Abra with 1,174, Tabuk City with 790, Ifugao with 468, Mt. Province with 299, Kalinga with 177, and Apayao with 143.

                The DepEd CAR consolidated data on SHS enrolment by track or program also indicates academic track having the most number of enrollees with a total 34,655 of grades 11 and 12. The academic track comprises Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), General Academic Strand, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand.

                The Arts and Design Track has a total of 262 while students under the Technical, Vocational, and Livelihood Track (TVL) totaled 15,835; the Sports Track has the least number of grades 11 and 12 in the whole region with only 47 SHS students. – Georaloy I. Palao-ay