DepEd wants End of School Year rites indoors, in covered courts

The Department of Education called on public schools to hold their End-of-School-Year (EOSY) activities, scheduled later this month, indoors as the country continues to face dangerous levels of heat amid the El Niño.

Under Memorandum 23-2024 released by the DepEd on May 2, EOSY rites are set to be held from May 29 to 31, 2024, and are prescribed to be conducted in indoor venues or well-ventilated areas away from the sun.

“To ensure the safety and protection of learners, teachers, and attendees, schools are advised to hold their EOSY Rites in indoor venues with proper ventilation or covered courts to avoid exposure to the extreme heat of the sun,” the memorandum read.

“Schools shall avoid scheduling their EOSY Rites during the time of the day when temperatures are at the highest,” it added.

The country continues to experience extreme heat conditions, with the index possibly reaching “danger” levels of up to 48 degrees Celsius in at least 16 locations on Sunday.

The Department of Health (DOH) had reported 77 cases of heat-related illnesses from January 1 to April 29 this year, of which seven were reported deaths but were “non-conclusive” for heat stroke due to insufficient data.

According to DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, the memorandum deliberately did not prescribe a time for the EOSY rites as schools were given the flexibility to schedule the activities during times with low heat.

“Kung talagang hindi natin maiwasan na walang indoor venues na magagamit or covered courts ay gawin lang sa mga oras na hindi matindi ang sikat ng araw at hindi matindi ‘yung init,” he said in Mav Gonzales' Sunday “24 Oras Weekend” report.

“We intentionally did not prescribe a time kasi iba-iba ang sitwasyon sa ating mga schools nationwide, and that is why nakausap naman ang ating mga school heads, we’re giving them flexibility,” he added.

(If it is unavoidable and there are no indoor venues or covered courts, the EOSY rites should be held when the sun and the heat are not intense. We intentionally did not prescribe a time because the situations in our schools nationwide are different, and that is why we spoke to school heads. We’re giving them flexibility.)

The same memorandum also stated that expenses related to EOSY rites should be charged to the public schools' maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

“No DepEd personnel shall be allowed to collect any kind of contribution or fee for the Graduation/Moving-Up Ceremony,” it read.

“Dapat, unang-una, no collection tayo sa graduation. Siguraduhin na walang mga teachers, staff, school personnel, or sinuman na magkakaroon ng any collection… We want it to be very simple lang and meaningful,” Poa said.

(First of all, no collection for graduation. Ensure that no teachers, staff, school personnel, or whoever would collect any money. We want it to be simple and meaningful.) — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News