The Department of Education (DepEd)  is planning to come  out with a special formula that teachers in the National Capital Region (NCR)  could use in computing the grades and determining the class standing of students while Metro Manila is under “community quarantine” or “lockdown”  due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua said DepEd might issue a memorandum or an order for school officials in the NCR to use  what they call the “transmutation formula.”

“Iko-compute ‘yung mga grado ng mga bata magmula noong first, second, at saka third quarters at ‘yung remaining standing nila?—less at wala don ‘yung fourth quarter?—and then we’ll be having their class standing,” Pascua said.

“Kung hindi naman sila magiging satisfied sa kanilang magiging grado ay magkakaroon din ng online examination,” he added.

Pascua notes that since many teachers and learners in Metro Manila have access to cellphones and Wi-Fi, the DepEd may introduce its online learning platform.

Through the online platform, NCR students may be able to take the lessons for the remaining two weeks of the school year and have their online exams.

Suspension of classes has been extended to April 12, 2020 after the country raised Code Red Sub-Level 2 due to the COVID-19 threat.

Pascua said that the students outside the areas with class suspensions will be taking their fourth-quarter exams on a staggered basis next week.

“Ibig sabihin ang mga bata ay pupunta lang sa mga eskwelahan next week para lang mag-take ng examination pero staggered basis, kung kailan lang sila magte-take ng exam dun lang sila papasok,” he said.

He said that this is a form of social distancing.

Pascua said that teachers of schools within areas covered by class suspension due to COVID-19 are not required to report for work at the schools except on instances that they are required by the division superintendent.

The teachers  are also expected to accomplish their  work  on time, he said./Stacy Ang