Manila – As the graduation season in the Philippines approaches, the Department of Education warns schools that no graduation fees should be collected from elementary and high school students.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro has issued Department Order No. 9, Series of 2013 setting the guidelines for the 2013 graduation rites.
Since its launch in January, DepEd’s DeTXT Action Center has received 180 complaints on the collection of graduation fees were they are being asked to pay from P150 up to P600.
The amount adds up on the burden of parents and is very costly especially to students in public schools.
The complaints were mostly schools from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon area.
In addition to DepEd’s guidelines, graduation rites should be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony and should not be used as a venue for political campaigns. Luistro added that teachers should not require their students to submit non-academic projects as requirements for graduation.
Also, no extravagant special attire or extraordinary venue for the graduation ceremonies should be required. Instead, the secretary recommended that parents should save up the money to use for their children’s education fund.