Students who lost records during Yolanda need to take test

The Department of Education (DepEd) said graduating students who lost their school records due to super typhoon Yolanda and other calamities last year would have to take a “validating test” to be able to receive their diplomas.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said they have salvaged most of the records from schools devastated by Yolanda on November 8, 2013.

He said students affected by the Zamboanga City siege last September will also graduate in the coming weeks.

“Everybody will graduate. The loss of records will not be a problem,” Luistro stressed.

The DepEd has scheduled graduation rites for public elementary and high school on March 27 or 28.

Schools in disaster- affected areas are expected to hold their graduation ceremonies a few days later, Luistro said.

“If teachers could no longer recall the grades, the students have to pass a validation test to move up to the next grade or year level,” he explained.

He said the examination would help them determine if the students had mastered their lessons.

Luistro also said they would no longer issue national guidelines on how to determine honor students.

“It’s up to the divisions as they are in better position to determine (honor students),” he said.

According to the DepEd, at least 7,300 students, or about 10 percent of the 78,000 public elementary and high school students in Yolanda- hit areas, lost their school records.

“Records that have been partially damaged were digitally captured and sent to division offices. Those that were lost or totally destroyed are being reconstructed using other available documents,” DepEd Director for Technical Services Rogelio Morales earlier said.