DepEd eyes special computation of students’ final grades

Pascua said the special formula would be included in the memorandum that the DepEd is set to release. (File Photo By Patrick Roque/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said teachers in Metro Manila and other areas affected by 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) can use a special formula in computing the final grades of their students.

Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua recommended the use of “transmutation formula,” allowing teachers to average the grades of students in the first three quarters.

Pascua said the special formula would be included in the memorandum that the DepEd is set to release.

“’Yun pong transmutation formula ay iko-compute ‘yung grado ng mga bata magmula noong first, second saka third quarter, less at wala doon ‘yung fourth quarter (Under transmutation formula, you have to compute learners’ grades from the first, second and third quarters, less the fourth quarter),” he said during the “Laging Handa” press briefing.

The proposal was made, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Metro Manila under a community quarantine due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Pascua said teachers may also consider online tests through mobile devices.

He said resorting to the online learning platform can be done in Metro Manila since many teachers and students have access to cellphones and the Internet.

“Ang mga bata, kung hindi naman sila satisfied doon sa kanilang magiging grado ay magkakaroon din po ng online examination (if the students would not be satisfied with their grades, they can have online examination),” Pascua said.

On the other hand, the fourth quarter examinations in areas where there are no class suspensions will be on a “staggered basis” to reduce the number of students in school every day, Pascua said.

The Covid-19 alert system has been raised to Code Red (Sub-level 2), prompting Duterte to place the whole of Metro Manila under community quarantine.

Duterte also extended the suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila until April 12.

Teachers not required to go to schools

For teachers in Metro Manila, they are not required to report for work, Pascua said.

Pascua said teachers only need to go to schools on instances that there are summoned by the division superintendent to accomplish “learner-related matters.”

He said the DepEd would also issue a memorandum that allows teachers to stay at home while classes are still suspended.

“Para malinaw at walang magiging conflict dahil ‘yung iba nire-require daw silang pumasok para mag-disinfect ng paaralan ang other nonteaching-related matters (The memorandum will make it clear for them and will stop conflict because some teachers are saying they are being asked to disinfect schools and perform nonteaching-related matters),” Pascua said.