DepEd removes periodical tests for school year 2020-2021

Justinne Francisco

Sep 28, 20201 min read

EMPTY SPACES. Due to the possibility of distance cheating, DepEd has decided to postpone the periodical tests in favor of alternative ways. © Top Gear Philippines & Arias

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced in a virtual press briefing last September 21 that periodical tests will not push through in the current school year to prevent ‘distance cheating’.

"We feel that [periodical] exams... could be addressed by summative and performance tasks which are more inclusive and authentic in gauging the learning process and progress unlike periodic exams which are based on pen and paper examination," said DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio.

"It doesn't have to be a test. It is a conversation on the lessons covered," San Antonio added.

Private schools, however, are only highly encouraged but not required to remove periodical tests.

In the new normal, the students’ grades will be obtained from the written works and the performance tasks they have accumulated.

DepEd is urging parents to encourage their children to maintain honesty in doing their school work in the new set-up.

In previous school years, periodical tests were taken to measure the students’ abilities and masteries on a subject at the end of a term.

Students typically took these tests 3 - 4 times a year.