To: Bureau Directors, Regional Directors and Division Superintendents
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities

1. Statement of Policy. It is DECS policy that as much as possible individual schools, espe¬cially private schools, shall be responsible for matters which were previously referred to DECS but which are capable of resolution by the schools themselves. Accordingly, effective this forthcoming school year 1994-95, it will no longer be necessary for elementary and secondary schools, whether public or private, to refer to DECS those pupil applicants transferring from foreign countries for grade placement purposes by DECS.
2. Placement Principles. Each accepting school shall have the discretion to determine the appropriate elementary grade in which to place the transferee. In general, except as otherwise indicat¬ed, the appropriate grade level should be the next curriculum year following that completed abroad by the applicant. For example, a pupil who has completed Grade IV in a foreign school abroad should be considered for admission to Grade V here. The following guidelines from DECS Order No. 67, s. 1993 are given below, for the sake of completeness:
   1. Those who have completed the Sixth or Seventh Grade abroad are eligible for admission to the First Year of High School; however, graduates of a five-year elementary curriculum are eligible only for admission to Grade VI.
   2. Those who have completed the Eighth Grade abroad are eligible for admission to the Second Year of High School, but shall take Filipino I and Social Studies I (Philippine His¬tory and Government).
   3. Those who have completed the Ninth Grade abroad are eligible for the Third Year of High School, but shall take Filipino I and Social Studies I and then take Filipino II in the Fourth Year of High School.
      (d) Those who have completed the Tenth Grade abroad are eligible for the Fourth Year of High School, but shall take Filipino I and Social Studies I. They need not take Filipino II, III or IV in order to graduate.
   4. Those who have completed the Eleventh or Twelfth grades abroad may be eligi¬ble for admission to the tertiary level, depending on the course they will pursue. In case they opt for baccalaureate degree courses, they will have to qualify in the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) for as long as such is still required by law.
3. The foreign educational system concerned should have a first or elementary level of at least six years, a secondary or high school level system of at least four years, and a total basic education (elementary plus secondary) of at least ten years. The specifics for each country are provided in the attached Annex, obtained from the latest (1993) Unesco World Education Report.
4. The accepting school shall have the discretion to accelerate their pupil to a higher Grade/Year, or conversely to a lower Grade/Year, depending upon the subsequent performance of the pupil in the accepting school. The accepting school shall also be responsible for the appropriate sup¬plementary programs as may be necessary in order that facility in Filipino may be hastened, should it appear inadequate.
5. Pending requests with DECS for placement classification will be considered referred back to the schools for appropriate action, consistent with the above policies.
6. All previous DECS issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are rescinded or modified accordingly. DECS Order No. 67, s. 1993 remains valid in its entirety.

Incl.: As stated
Reference: DECS Order: (No, 67, s. 1993)
Allotment: 1-2-4– (M.O.1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ADMISSION or ENROLLMENT
Course of Study, ELEMENTARY
Course of Study, SECONDARY
RULES & REGULATIONS
SCHOOLS
TRANSFER

DO_s1994_026