No more final exams for students

MANILA, Philippines — Efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus disease have spared students from taking the fourth quarter examinations in Metro Manila schools and other areas under community quarantine after the Department of Education (DepEd) issued Memorandum 42, which set the formula for computing the final grades of those who will not be administered the final exams.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones also gave teachers the leeway to stay home except when ordered by division superintendents to report for work for learner-related matters.

In the memorandum issued last Sunday, Briones said that “in areas where classes have been suspended by the relevant national or local authorities for the week of March 16 to 20 and thus preventing the holding of the scheduled 4th Quarter Examination, such as in NCR and in areas where local government units have suspended classes, the 4th Quarter Examination will no longer be administered.”

The formula for computing the grades was also included in the memo.

For schools in areas with no community quarantine enforced and where classes were held as usual, Briones said school authorities could use an earlier order that has set the fourth quarter exams for Grade 6 and 12 on March 12 to 13 and from March 19 to 20 for other grade levels.

While graduation exercises and moving up rites are not prohibited, Briones said the social distancing policy should be strictly observed.

“The schools in consultation with the Parents-Teachers Association leadership may choose to reschedule or forgo the holding of the rites should the public health situation prevent the holding of the rites within the period,” she added.