167,124 Eastern Visayas students graduate in elementary, high school this school year

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March 29, 2012

PALO, Leyte  –  More than 167,000 students both in the elementary and High School levels are set to graduate this week, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region informed.

Dr. Rebecca Ragrag, the regional information officer designate, told the Information Agency that the 167,124 graduates for this school year in Eastern Visayas include those from the private and public schools.

There are 101,132 candidates for graduation in the elementary level while 65,992 are set to graduate from the secondary level.

Of the 101,132 graduates in the elementary level, 2,529 of them are from private schools while of the 65,992 who finished their fourth year high school, 8,592 came from the private schools, Dr. Ragrag added.

Dr. Ragrag observed that this year’s number of graduates is higher compare to last year. She said that last year, 162,640 finished both their elementary and secondary educations both from the private and public schools.

Dr. Ragrag, who is also the officer-in-charge of the policy, planning and research division of the DepEd-8, said that the agency is happy that there is a higher number of graduates because it is a manifestation that the measures implemented in order to keep the students in school have been effective.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ragrag reiterated the call of the Department to ensure that the graduation exercises be austere considering of the financial crisis the country is facing.

According to her, the school administrators, particularly in the public schools, should be reminded that Education Secretary Armin Luistro has issued DepEd Order Number 9 setting the guideline for the holding of a simple graduation.

Under the same order, no collection should be exacted by school administrators to graduates, especially the so-called non-academic projects, Dr. Ragrag added.

“Collection is not only discouraged but strictly prohibited (under said order). Graduation should be made solemn and austere,” she said.