Scholastic leniency

Avigail F. Nunag

RECENTLY, the House Committee approved House Bill (HB) 7961 to protect the mental health of K to 12 learners through scholastic leniency, while it amended House Resolution (HR) 1383 urging DepEd to adopt a pass or drop grading system.

This goes to show that the House supports the DepEd in implementing academic ease measures to lessen the mental stress of Kinder to Grade 12 learners.

According to the DepEd, its priority is the safety and welfare of its stakeholders and the Department will continuously implement the academic ease m easu r es.

The welfare of teachers and learners remains to be DepEd’s priority, reason why it will ensure that the current School Year is bearable for all while still promoting effective learning engagement.

Meanwhile, the provisions of HB 7961 and HR 1383 support the fundamental principles of BE-LCP, specifically on protecting the health, safety and well-being of learners, teachers, and personnel.

Consistent with the BE-LCP, the DepEd had issued policies in relation to the implementation of multiple learning delivery modalities and the interim policy guidelines on grading and assessing learners.

However, DepEd said it will not adopt the pass or drop grading system as the Department sees that remedial classes are the solution for learners who are at risk of failing.

The recommendation of the ExeCom as well as the ManCom is not to adopt the pass or drop grading system for learners, because the first consideration is if there are learners at risk of failing, there should be remediation measures to help them so that it can really be said that no one will be left behi nd.

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture will amend the HB 7961 and HR 1383 into a house resolution, adopting and passing scholastic leniency and academic ease for DepEd and other educational institutions while leaving the authority for grading system to them.

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The author is Teacher III at Minalin Elementary School