DepEd reminds schools not to collect fees for grad rites, parties

As the graduation season draws near, the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded public and private elementary and secondary schools to refrain from collecting graduation fees from the students. Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro reminded school heads and teachers to keep graduation rites simple and avoid lavish graduation ceremonies, which may be an additional financial burden to parents. Graduation should serve as a reward to parents for sending their children to school and should not be a reason for them to worry financially, Luistro said in a statement. He added that additional school fees for celebrations like graduation may discourage enrollment, especially among the very poor. The Education department earlier released DepEd Order No. 4, which highlights its policy on the conduct and collection of fees for graduation rites. No "extravagant special attire" or extraordinary venue should be required. "Graduation rites should not be exercises in splurging and display of pomp and pageantry but should be Spartan affairs that exhort civic duties, sense of community and personal responsibilities," the DepEd Order said. DepEd also appealed to schools to refrain from holding graduation parties or balls that will require students to pay additional expenses, unless agreed upon by the school's parent-teacher association. The collection of fees must also be on a voluntary basis, and teachers and principals should not be involved in collecting the contributions, the DepEd said. Under DepEd Order No. 4, graduation rites for this school year shall be scheduled any day between April 1 to 7, 2011. - Candice Montenegro/VVP, GMA News