DepEd exec warns vs political campaigns in graduation, moving up rites

BAGUIO CITY – An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) Cordillera said the upcoming graduation and moving up ceremonies in public schools should not serve as venues for political campaigns.

Assistant Regional Director Betina Aquino of DepEd Cordillera said there is no law that prohibits schools to invite politicians as speakers during their graduation rites but school heads must make sure the activity will not become a political campaign forum.

She said that the distribution of flyers or other political stunts is also not allowed during the rites.

“Politicians should be examples and not use graduation and moving up rites as venues for their campaign,” she said during a press briefing here on Wednesday.

Aquino said school heads may face administrative cases should there be violations.

She also said that graduation rites should be kept simple and expenses should come from the school’s funds.

Aquino added that schools should not make non-academic activities such as film viewing, concerts, field trips and expensive projects as requirements for graduation.

“There should be no collection from parents for the graduation rites,” she said.

Aquino said graduation and moving up rites should take place from April 1 to April 5.

Some 33,630 pupils will graduate from Kindergarten; 34,373 from Grade 6; 22,254 from Grade 10 and 12,275 from Grade 12 in the Cordillera for the school year 2018-2019.