It’s a good year for all of our hardworking students. The Department of Education released the new order in the selection of honor students at the beginning of the School Year 2016-2017  to the great applause of both students and teachers.  Their toils and sleepless nights will be rewarded. Gone are the days when they have to be deliberated to be part of the magic 10 or magic 5 who will be receive honors in a ceremony. Today, all the student has to do is to get the average of 90-94 to receive with honors; 95-97, with high honors; and 98-100, with highest honors. The hurdle of extracurricular has been lifted.  

            Academic excellence is all that matters.

            Formerly, extracurricular rating takes about 30% and academics 70% in the ranking for honors. Students running for honors have no chance to make it if they excel only either in academics or in extracurricular activities. Emotions ran through the roof during deliberations in failed expectations. A number of protests ensue coming from parents whose child did not make it to the expected rank after a grueling and overly tensed atmosphere deliberation. Year after year, the old method always breeds combatant parents and students vying for the position in the magic circle of honors. Not a few friendships break and acquaintances severe; not a few teachers suffer from the wrath of an inconsolable parent.

            All the fuss is history.The only competition the student has is himself.

            There are only minor distinctions among different programs: for Students under Basic Education Curriculum, they can vie for honor for as long as the required average is met and no failing grade; for Science and Technology and Engineering Program (STEP), Special Program in the Arts (SPA), for students under Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) and Strengthened Technical Vocational Education Program (STVEP), the final rating in major subjects should not be lower than 85% while in minor subjects should not be below 82%.   

            Approximately 1,500 students in Bataan National High School this year will receive academic excellence awards coming from Grade 7 to Grade 11. From Grade 7 alone almost 300 students will receive academic distinctions which is unprecedented. Not included in this number are the leadership awards, best in subject area awards, best in specialization awards (SPA) and awards received from academic and sports competitions.

 

By: Luz H. Buensuceso Teacher III-BNHS