DepEd-7: Keep grad rites simple

CEBU, Philippines — In planning for the graduation rites this April, local officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) have urged school heads and teachers to keep the ceremonies as simple as possible.

DepEd-7 Director Dr. Julieta Jeruta said the administration, especially for public schools, should do away with fancy and extravagant ceremonies or celebration even if the faculty and parents can agree and decide freely on how to go about with the program.

“The graduation rites, including the moving up and completion ceremonies, must be conducted in a simple way. Avoid fancy and lavish celebrations,” she told The FREEMAN over a phone interview.

Embraced as a tradition, graduation ceremonies are organized with a program or staged presentations, held in a decorative venue and, for some, followed with a celebration or food party.

Other expenses are also allotted for the making of certificates or diploma, and for renting the graduation toga and cap.

Jeruta said the school administrators must abide by the DepEd rules and policies, and stick to the orders from the agency’s head office.

Through DepEd order No. 2 dated February 18, 2019, school heads are reminded to keep the graduation rites simple "but meaningful to encourage civil rights, a sense of community, and personal responsibility."

"While these rites mark a milestone in the life of the learners, these should be conducted without excessive spending, extravagant attire or extraordinary venue," read part of the three-page order.

DepEd stipulated that moving up and completion ceremonies should also be the same, involving only the pupils, their parents, and the school officials or faculty.

Parents are also informed that students are not obliged to participate in "non-academic" projects such as field trips, film showing, Junior-Senior promenade, and other school events as these are not requirements for graduation or completion.

For public schools alone, expenses must be charged to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the school.

DepEd prohibits school officials or its personnel from collecting any kind of contribution or fees for the ceremonies.

Jeruta said public school administrations should observe strictly the “no collection” policy and avoid asking additional fees from parents or guardians.

In principle, the graduation or moving up cost is set at P250 per student.

Since the policy only applies to public schools, private institutions follow their respective internal arrangement when it comes to contributions, said DepEd Cebu City Schools Division superintendent Dr. Bianito Dagatan.

In Cebu City, he said the local government unit for years has been allocating P150 per graduate or completer as subsidy, in addition to MOOE that the school can use.

“Parents at their own decision may help the public school voluntarily.  However, they cannot use their (parent-teacher) association to collect from each learner purposely for graduation,” said Dagatan.

“Such help may be for expenses not allowable by COA (Commission on Audit) in the use of government funds like expenses for the Holy Mass, recollection, and the like but such assistance shall be from voluntary assistance of few parents probably graced with extra income,” he added.

Above all, he encouraged the school heads for both public and private schools to observe austerity in organizing the graduation and moving up ceremonies.

Meanwhile, DepEd clarified that Grade 6 completers can still have graduation rather than moving up ceremony, apologizing for the confusion it has caused.

Jeruta said DepEd higher officials has corrected earlier announcement that there will be no graduation rites for elementary completers by March, clarifying that Grade 6 together with Grade 12 (Senior High) can still experience graduation rites.

Kindergarten and Grade 10 (Junior High) students will have moving up ceremonies.

Moreover, DepEd said the ceremonies for public schools must be scheduled not earlier than April 1 but not later than April 5. Schools with an extended class days are guided by their revised school calendar approved by DepEd. (FREEMAN)