CEBU, Philippines - With the 2013-2014 school year ending next month, the Department of Education (DepEd-7) has cautioned public schools anew on excessive graduation contributions.
In a memorandum, DepEd-7 Director Dr. Camelita Dulangon said schools must be considerate in requesting for contributions from students for graduation, considering the calamities that hit the Visayas last year.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted the region on October 15, 2013 while super typhoon Yolanda devastated Eastern Visayas on November 9, 2013.
The memorandum also warned teachers from making contributions compulsory. Dulangon said doing so will only discourage students from attending the graduation rites. She advised that schools only hold their graduation rites within the campus to defray expenses.
She reminded parents that DepEd is open to complaints against teachers and schools that ask for excessive graduation fees.
Meanwhile, DepEd-7 spokesperson Dr. Clara Rebecca Falconi said that public schools in places hit by the calamities will hold their graduation rites in April, as they would need to comply with the 201-day required number of days for a school year. — Chester Abadilla of Banat News/JMO