VIRTUAL GRADUATION. Department of Education Division of Antique officials Evelyn Remo (left) and Dr. Gaudencio Reigo in a press conference in December 2020. Remo said during an interview on Wednesday (May 26, 2021) that there will be no face-to-face graduation again this year for the 45,372 graduating learners in Antique due to coronavirus disease 2019. (PNA file photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – There will be no face-to-face graduation ceremony for the 45,372 graduating learners from this province this coming July, according to the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Antique.
DepEd Antique School Governance and Operations Division chief Evelyn Remo said on Wednesday they will abide by Memorandum Order 27, series 2021 issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones for a no face-to-face graduation rite for the school year 2020-2021.
“The graduation is scheduled from July 12 to 16 but because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), still there will be no face-to-face graduation rites in the schools,” she said in an interview.
However, schools may hold virtual graduation rites for their graduating learners and may choose the date from July 12 to 16.
In a separate interview, Dr. Gaudencio Reigo, chief of the DepEd Division of Antique Curriculum Implementation, said they expect 12,202 graduating learners from Kindergarten; 12,621 from Grade 6; 11,846 for Grade 10; and 8,703 for Grade 12.
He said the no face-to-face graduation rite aims to avoid mass gatherings and for the schools to abide by the Covid-19 safety protocols as "the public health and safety of the students are the top priority".
Meanwhile, Antique Pantawid Provincial Link Jeffrey Gabucay said they support the Deped as some of their Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are expected to graduate.
He is appealing for their members to understand why they could not physically go up the school stage to receive their diplomas.
“The virtual graduation to be held by the DepEd is also a good alternative for graduating students to participate in,” he said. (PNA)
