THE Department of Education (DepEd) announced that the parents of graduating students in public schools will have lesser or no expenses at all in this year’s commencement exercises.
The announcement was made as the school principals and heads have been issued directive to use their respective Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses to shoulder the expenses of the graduation ceremony, including the use of the sound system.
Dr. Pedro Melchor Natividad, city schools division superintendent, said the directive is contained in the DepEd Order No. 8, series of 2017 dated February 17, 2017 signed by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.
Natividad said the Alumni Association and the General Parents Teachers Association may shoulder any extra expenses such as the snacks during the graduation ceremony.
He said the students can join the graduation ceremony even if they don’t have toga or failed to pay contribution.
He advised the school principals, heads and teachers to adhere to the DepEd order since “whatever happens at the end of the day, it’s the same policy that will protect as well be used against them for violation of the directive.”
He said the graduation rites in the elementary level are on or before April 7, 2017 per schedule set by DepEd. For junior high school, they will have the moving up ceremony.
This year’s graduation rites is anchored on the theme: “Sabay-Sabay na Hakbang Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan.” (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)