Academic Excellence Awards Must Be Announced Alphabetically, Says DepEd
The Academic Excellence Awards are a big moment for students, parents, and schools in the Philippines. These awards recognize learners who work hard and do well in school. But the Department of Education (DepEd) wants to make sure the recognition process is fair and equal for all. That’s why they released a memo in May 2021 to remind schools about the correct way to announce awardees.
This clarification follows DepEd Order No. 36, s. 2016, which talks about how to give awards under the K to 12 Basic Education Program.
Why Did DepEd Release a Clarification?
DepEd noticed that some schools were not following the correct process when announcing students who received Academic Excellence Awards like:
- With Honors
- With High Honors
- With Highest Honors
Instead of following the rules, some schools were listing awardees based on their average grades—starting from the highest. But this creates a ranking that goes against the rule of fairness in the DepEd guidelines.
The memo (DepEd Memorandum No. 030, s. 2021) reminds all schools to list awardees alphabetically within each award category, not based on who has the highest grades. This rule helps prevent favoritism and gives all qualified students equal respect.
What Does Alphabetical Order Mean for Awarding?
Let’s say three students are given the “With Honors” award:
| Name of Learners | Average Grade |
|---|---|
| Aragon, Margarita | 92 |
| Dela Cruz, Juana | 91 |
| Zaragosa, Jesus | 94 |
Even though Jesus Zaragosa has the highest grade (94), his name should be announced after Aragon and Dela Cruz because the list must follow the alphabetical order of their last names.
So, the correct order for announcing is:
- Margarita Aragon
- Juana Dela Cruz
- Jesus Zaragosa
This method is more respectful and fair because it avoids comparing grades once students already qualify for the same award.
DepEd’s Reminder to All Schools
DepEd addressed this memo to many officials, including:
- Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries
- Bureau and Service Directors
- Regional and Division Superintendents
- School Heads in both public and private schools
They emphasized that all schools must follow this rule for all recognition ceremonies.
Why This Rule Matters
This might seem like a small thing, but it means a lot to students and parents. Here’s why:
- It avoids unhealthy competition among learners who are already doing well.
- It promotes fairness by treating all awardees the same way.
- It reminds schools that academic awards are about recognizing effort—not ranking students.
When a student receives an Academic Excellence Award, it means they worked hard and met the standard. Once a student earns that recognition, it doesn’t matter if they scored 91 or 94—they should be treated equally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the types of Academic Excellence Awards?
The three main categories are With Honors (85–89 average), With High Honors (90–94), and With Highest Honors (95–100).
Do schools still consider average grades?
Yes, average grades are used to determine eligibility for awards, but not to rank students during announcements.
Why alphabetical order?
To avoid bias and create fairness during recognition ceremonies.
What if a school doesn’t follow this rule?
It could lead to complaints or corrections. Schools are expected to follow DepEd policies carefully.
Does this apply to both public and private schools?
Yes. The rule is for all schools under DepEd, whether public or private.
Final Thoughts
As a teacher and a parent, I think this update from DepEd is very helpful. I’ve seen students feel sad just because their names were called last—even if they got the same award. By using alphabetical order, everyone feels equally appreciated.
It’s not about who scored a little higher. It’s about recognizing effort and encouraging a positive attitude in school. Let’s keep making school a place where all hard-working learners feel valued and celebrated.
