DepEd execs: No automatic pass, promotion for students this school year

MANILA, Philippines — Students could not expect an automatic passing grade in this school year even with a new learning system amid the pandemic, officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday.

During the online hearing of the House committee on basic education and culture, Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo asked if all students would pass this school year as she pointed out that some students might not have digital devices that they could use for their studies.

However, DepEd Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby Torio said that there are different modes that students could continue their studies under distance learning which include modular instructions, online, and television, among others.

“Hindi nangangahulugan na kung walang mobile devices yung mga mag-aaral natin ay hindi na sila makakapagpatuloy mag-aral kasi nandiyan yung mga modules natin,” Torio said.

Torio said that interim guidelines on the assessment of students are currently being formulated and is being consulted with their regional directors before it is submitted for approval.

Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali echoed Torio’s statements, saying that there would be no automatic passing and promotion of students this school year.

“Kung ang konsepto nung pagpasa na pinag-uusapan natin is automatically being promoted from one grade level to a higher grade level, walang ganun na mangyayari,” Umali said.

“Kung ang pagpasa naman na tinatanong ay yung dati nating ginagawa na ina-assess natin, may grado ang bawat bata bawat grading period, mangyayari pa rin yun… So walang awtomatikong papasa,” he added.

As of August 12, there are 21.5 million registered students in public school from kindergarten to high school nationwide, including learners with disabilities and students under the alternative learning system.

Of these, 2.14 million are from Metro Manila. [ac]