DepEd says regular grading system still continues; pass or drop system won’t be adopted

The ‘pass or drop’ grading system will not be adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd), despite the Congress giving it full support to ease academic requirements during the pandemic, as students were forced to face the new normal where face-to-face classes are prohibited and distance learning becomes challenging due to problems in internet connectivity.

The regular grading system will still be continued by DepEd as mentioned by DepEd Assistant Secretary for curriculum and instruction Alma Torio. She added that students who are having poor proficiencies or difficulties in learning will just be given remedial classes as means to address them as they were already considered by the department.

The recommendation of the (DepEd executive committee) as well as the (DepEd management committee) is not to adopt the pass or drop grading system for our learners. Our first consideration is if there are learners who are at risk of failing, which entails having remediation measures in place,

she said in English and Filipino.

She added that in order to not leave students behind, they will create measures to help learners who are at risk of failing.

At the same time, Education Secretary Leonor Briones has highlighted that the safety and welfare of its stakeholders will be their top priority during the implementation of academic ease measures.

The welfare of our teachers and learners remains to be our priority, and we will ensure that school year 2020-2021 will be bearable for all while still promoting effective learning engagement,

Briones said.

To lessen the mental stress being experienced by students due to distance learning, DepEd had gotten the support of the House committee on basic education and culture in executing measures on academic ease.

The DepEd and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) were urged to adopt the pass or drop grading system after the committee approved House Bill 7961 to protect the mental health of K-12 learners through scholastic leniency while it amended House Resolution 1383 last Thursday.

On the other hand, the recommendation to not adopt the pass or drop grading system was supported by House committee on basic education and culture chairman Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and members – Reps. France Castro (Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list), Sarah Elago (Kabataan party-list), Mark Go (Baguio City) and Gabriel Bordado Jr. (Camarines Sur 3rd District) – as well as representatives from the private education sector.