QuestionsQuestions (DECS ORDER NO. 49 S. 1992)
It provides guidelines for the selection of honor students in secondary schools to give due recognition to graduating students with exemplary performance in high school work.
It was adopted on May 13, 1992, and it was intended for implementation starting School Year (SY) 1992–1993.
It applies to all public and private secondary schools.
Teachers, parents, and students must be given orientation on the scheme at the beginning of the school year.
Final selection and announcement should be made not earlier than thirty (30) days nor later than fifteen (15) days before the commencement exercises or graduation rites.
Protests filed ten (10) days before the commencement exercises shall not be entertained.
It recognizes the awards/designations of valedictoriana, salutatoriana, and ahonorable mentiona.
There shall be one valedictorian and one salutatorian for all graduating classes.
Both candidates may be declared valedictorians or salutatorians in case of a tie.
The number of honorable mentiona shall be one percent (1%) of the total number of graduating students in the school.
A candidate must have no grade lower than 80 in any subject during the third and fourth years in any grading period (as recorded in Forms 137 and 138-A). He must not have a failing grade in any subject required by DECS, including non-credit subjects, in the first two curriculum years.
The candidate must have done the entire work of the third and fourth years in the secondary school where he is graduating.
The candidate must have completed the curriculum within the prescribed length in years—i.e., within four consecutive years.
The candidate must be an active member in at least two existing authorized student organizations or clubs during the third and fourth years in the school where he is graduating.
The candidate must have conducted himself in conformity with the school’s rules, regulations, and policies.
Academic excellence is weighted at 7 points, and performance in co-curricular activities is weighted at 3 points (total weighted points = 10).
It is based on the general average of the grades of the graduating student in the last two years (third and fourth years). Final grades in the fourth year should be completed before the last three weeks of the school year and based on the work done during the last grading period; then ranks are assigned and the rank is multiplied by 7.
It covers achievements for the last two years, including active participation in authorized organizations/clubs and various recognized activities and awards. The rating is based on combined assessment of all third and fourth year teachers, then ranking is done from the lowest to the highest composite sum of ranks, and the rank is multiplied by 3.
Final weighted ranks are obtained by adding the weighted ranks from academic excellence (weighted by 7) and co-curricular performance (weighted by 3), then ranking the sums from the lowest to the highest to determine order of awards.