Luistro: No extra fees, politics during graduation

MANILA, Philippines–Keep it simple.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro has ordered school officials nationwide to keep commencement exercises austere, warning them against imposing unnecessary graduation fees and directing them to ensure that the rites remain apolitical.

In an order dated Feb. 26, Luistro reminded the heads of both public and private primary and secondary schools not just to keep the ceremonies simple but to ensure that they are solemn and memorable for the graduates and their parents.

“While graduation marks a milestone in the life of graduates, it should be conducted without excessive spending, extravagant attire or extravagant venues,” he stressed.

“Graduation rites should be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony befitting the graduating pupils and students and their parents and shall not be used as a political forum,” he added.

Luistro said commencement exercises nationwide are to focus on the theme: “Saktong Buhay: Sa Dekalidad na Edukasyon Pinanday (Decent Living: Forged in Quality Education).”

“This theme highlights the importance of a quality education in forging a decent future for the Filipino youth,” he said, adding that it highlighted the agency’s commitment to ensure that Filipino graduates acquire 21st century skills to help them achieve their dreams.

The secretary said that graduation rites should be held on either March 26 or 27, 2015. However, school divisions or regions where school year 2014 to 2015 has been extended may set a commencement date based on their revised calendars.

Luistro reiterated the Department of Education’s (DepEd) policy on graduations where, as part of the government’s austerity program, ceremonies should be simple but meaningful affairs “that encourage civil rights, a sense of community and personal responsibility.”

Participation in nonacademic projects, including field trips and junior-senior proms, should not be imposed as requirements for graduation, he said.

For the public schools, expenses for their ceremonies should be charged to their 2015 budget for maintenance and other operating expenses and no DepEd official may collect graduation fees or require any kind of contribution from the students.

Parent-teacher associations may make cash donations, while yearbook contributions should be voluntary.