By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay
April 17, 2025, 12:32 pm
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique is investigating an incident when a school principal ordered graduating Senior High School learners to take off their togas in the middle of their graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
DepEd Antique, in a statement, said an investigation team was created, and the school head and other concerned officials of the Col. Ruperto Abellon National School (CRANS) were ordered to submit an incident report and appropriate intervention plan.
A video of CRANS Principal II Venus Divinia Nietes asking students to take off their togas has been making rounds on social media following the April 15 end-of-school-year (EOSY) ceremony.
DepEd Antique Information Officer Eric Cortejo on Thursday said Nietes allegedly believed they did not adhere to the DepEd Order 9 to keep their rite simple but meaningful, as well as the “No Collection” policy where learners were not supposed to shell out money during their graduation rites, including for their togas.
“The fact-finding team has started its investigation already,” Cortejo said in an interview.
Dr. Edward Baña of the Curriculum Implementation Division heads the fact-finding team created by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Nicasio Frio. He was joined by the Learners’ Rights and Protection focal person and their legal officer.
“The top priority of the fact-finding team is the learners’ rights and protection,” Cortejo added.
He added that the 249 senior high school learners are considered officially graduates for this school year 2024-2025.
“The 249 learners are official graduates since they had already been confirmed before the incident happened,” he said.
He added that the DepEd Antique statement assured the graduates that they would not be deprived of their diplomas, certificates, and other credentials.
Moreover, appropriate interventions shall be implemented to ensure that the learners’ mental and psychological needs are appropriately addressed. (PNA)