Leonardia orders graduation ceremonies suspended

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following an agreement between the Bacolod City government, local schools, and health officials, amid concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, the 2019-2020 academic year is set to end later this month.
After three meetings, it was decided that preschool to secondary level classes will end on March 20; while some private schools, including those in the tertiary level, will end classes on March 27.
Daycare centers, however, will end the school year today.
In a statement issued by the city government, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he will issue an executive order pertaining to ending the school year early, along with suspending commencement exercises at all levels.
“All graduations [for] all schools, [at] all levels, in Bacolod City will be suspended until further notice,” the mayor stated.
Earlier this week, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called for an early end to the 2019-2020 academic year due to concerns over the localized spread of Covid-19. He said the government cannot afford a slow reactive response and urged for a more proactive approach.
His call was endorsed by the Department of Education-Division of Bacolod City (DepEd-Bacolod), with DepEd-Bacolod Schools Superintendent Gladys Sales saying the senator’s proposal requires “more prudent action” from DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.
“We’re almost done with our classes and [an] early closing of school would really ensure [the] safety of our students and their respective families,” she said.
Sales added, moves to end the school year early will also allow their office and local government units to clean, sanitize, and disinfect the schools./DGB, WDJ