In this school year (SY) 2022-2023, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued a department directive that strongly restricts the conduct of extracurricular activities. The regulation reiterates that all school days must be totally devoted to academics and co-curricular activities that complement them.
“The number of school days in this DepEd Order (DO) shall solely be dedicated to academics and related co-curricular activities. The conduct of extra- curricular activities shall be strictly prohibited,” The DepEd Order (DO) stated.
The National Schools Press Conference, National Science and Technology Fair, National Festival of Talent, and other similar endeavors are examples of permissible extracurricular and co-curricular activities. These activities may be carried out in a hybrid mode, subject to the country’s declared alert levels.
The eleventh week of each quarter may be used for co-curricular activities, according to the DO.
The directive made clear that while virtual activities on various social media platforms that call for comments or sharing may be carried out for causes like advocacy, awareness, or collaboration, they are not to count toward the learner’s academic grade.
Schools are also encouraged to incorporate these holidays and observances into their curricula as they see fit, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the overall number of instructional days.
Classes are promptly canceled for all regular and extraordinary federal holidays as well as any local holidays that have been officially established by legislation or presidential proclamation.
This DO specifies that the number of school days shall be entirely devoted to academics and related co-curricular activities. Extracurricular activity participation is strictly forbidden.
For the goals of advocacy, awareness, or collaboration, online tasks through various social media platforms may be completed, but they are not to count toward the learner’s academic grade. Subject to the nation’s proclaimed alert levels, curricular and extracurricular activities like the National Schools Press Conference, National Science and Technology Fair, National Festival of Talent, and other initiatives of a similar nature may be carried out in a hybrid mode.
To ensure that learners can seamlessly connect and integrate learning within and across learning areas, while providing manageable breaks in accordance with Memorandum OUCI-2020-307 entitled “Suggested Measures to Foster Academic Ease eluting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” curricula must be completed during the academic quarter.
However, in order to prevent disruptions to classes, co-curricular activities must be held after the quarter examinations.
According to Sulong Edukalidad’s goals, schools must firmly allocate ten (10) weeks of each academic quarter to practical classroom instruction. Each quarter’s eleventh week is open for the usage of co-curricular activities. This clause on arranging the sauce allows the Central Office, Regional Offices, Schools Division Offices (SDOs), and other concerned external stakeholders to offer co-curricular activities.
A list of the legal holidays and observances is provided in Attachment No. 3. Schools are encouraged to include these holidays and observances into their curricula as they see fit, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the overall amount of instructional days.
