‘Significant’ school events limited to 20 a year

To maximize time spent on educating students, public schools nationwide may now celebrate only a total of 20 significant events during the school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

In DepEd Memorandum No. 148 dated May 12, Education Secretary Florencio Abad said the order is in line with DepEd Order No. 9, titled "Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-On-Task and Ensuring Compliance Therewith," which aims to limit school celebrations to those events directly relevant to the instructional program.

The DepEd listed education-related national celebrations as follows:

Autism Consciousness Week, Jan. 16 to 22; National Mental Retardation Week, Feb. 14 to 18; EDSA People Power I and II, Feb. 25; National Women’s Week, first week of March; Women’s Rights and International Peace Day, first week of March; Araw ng Kagitingan, April 9; Philippine Veterans Week, April 5 to 11; Month of Festivals, May; Independence Day Celebration, June 12; National Disaster Consciousness Month, July; Nutrition Month, July; Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, August; Literacy Week, first week of September; Girl Scout Week, Sept. 19 to 25; Family Week, Sept. 26 to 30; School Health Month, October; Boy Scout Month, October; Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week, Nov. 14 to 18; National Week for the Gifted and Talented, Nov. 25 to 29; and Education Week, second week of December.

The list covers events of historical, cultural and political significance that schools might wish to celebrate, Abad said.

In general, discussions or the conduct of a lesson-centered activity on the significance of these events should be integrated into related subject areas using various strategies during regular classroom instruction to serve as the mode of imparting important messages to students, Abad said.

For celebrating events spearheaded by DepEd, additional activities may include poster, slogan and essay writing contests focused on the theme of the significant event.

Schools may also hold symposiums and lectures on topics related to the event and invite speakers during the flag-raising ceremony to discuss the celebration.

The schools may also set up bulletin board displays at strategic areas of campuses depicting the theme of the event.

School publications may also publish articles explaining the historical, political and cultural significance of the event.

Schools may also invite civic-spirited groups and other associations to render services for students.

Abad ordered all public school heads to send a letter acknowledging receipt of the DepEd memorandum to the Division Office. The DepEd disseminated the order nationwide.