Student Success vs. Competition - DepEd

"Give opportunity for students to excel rather than to compete with each other", this is the statement of the Department of Education emphasized by the release of the DepEd Order No. 36, s. 2016.

DO No. 36, s. 2016 talks about the “Policy Guidelines on Awards and Recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program”. Contrary to the traditional ranking system, DO No. 36, s. 2016 aims to give all learners equal opportunity to excel rather than compete with one another. Whoever met the standards, criteria, and guidelines set by this policy shall be recognized. Two or more learners can be a recipient of any award. However, when any of the learners do not meet the guidelines, no one shall be a recipient of that particular award.

Different awards given to learners are the following:

• Classroom awards. A simple recognition given in each class or section per quarter, or semester, or at the end of the school year.

• Grade-level Awards. Awards given to qualified learners at the end of the school year. The deliberation for this awardees is handled by the Awards Committee (AC)

• Special Recognition. Given to learners who have presented and/or won competitions at the district, division, regional, national, or international levels.

This order must be followed by any institution which follows the K to 12 Curriculum, including the Special Education Program. Private schools, higher education institutions (HEIs), technical-vocational institutions (TVIs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local universities and colleges (LUCs) offering basic education or any grade levels thereof, shall be responsible for promulgating their policy guidelines on awards and recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program, consistent with these policies and guidelines. Any modifications in the guidelines should be subject to the approval of the DepEd Regional Office.