Mendoza: Policies on graduation, other activities

DIRECTOR’S Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Department of Education (Deped) 11 Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy, CESO IV to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education) I do not consider my job as plain work --- rather it is my LIFE. “We have to continually examine what succeeds and fails, and why. We have to uphold and live true to our battlecry and DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus’ slogan of governance: “Edukasyon ang Solusyon”

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To ensure compliance by school heads with prevailing DepEd policies on graduation, a Regional Memorandum No. 09, s. 2010 was issued by Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy on February 2, 2010. Included in the memorandum is the advice to all chiefs of divisions in the regional office to remind the education program supervisors assigned to ensure that private schools comply with Deped policies.

Director Estigoy, this early, has issued said memorandum to guide those in the field on existing policies sometimes forgotten if not given due attention. This is also done to give due recognition to the parents organizations and other stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities towards the learners. The salient points of the memorandum are stated below:

Fees. Fees related to graduation are all voluntary for public schools and must be agreed by the concerned parents through the PTA. For private schools, they are requested to take consideration of the ability of parents to comply when imposing graduation fees.

Production of Yearbooks. The production of this souvenir program should be voluntary and must be agreed by the parents. As a matter of regional policy, DepEd officials should not grant requests from public schools for their messages/photos for inclusion in school yearbooks if the requests are not supported by the resolution/minutes of meeting of the parents approving the production of yearbooks.

Private Schools. No request from private schools regarding message and photos will be granted without the requirement stated above. In the same manner that no DepEd regional/divisional official or supervisor should accept invitations as guests of graduation/recognition programs from private schools without permits to operate.

Conduct of JS Prom. Conduct of Junior-Senior Promenades is not compulsory. Parents should be consulted and participation to this activity should not be compulsory. If endorsed by the parents, the conduct of this activity should not require much expense on the part of the parents.

Important Reminders. 1. Unless justified, all graduation programs and J S Promenades (if agreed by the parents) of public schools should be held in schools. If for valid reasons the conduct of these must be held in commercial establishments, the venue must be inexpensive. 2. The school calendar for SY 2009-2010 should be adhered to. 3. Wearing of the school uniform during graduation program is strongly encouraged.

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You can access DepEd updates, latest issuances and other relevant information through our website: http://www.region11.deped.gov.ph. For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email me at renzthescribe@gmail.com. or visit http://renzmendoza.multiply.com. for photos and other relevant information. For queries, complains and other concerns, call DepED Region 11 at (082) 227-9342 or fax to (082) 227-1102.

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Mr. Lorenzo E. Mendoza, M.A. is the Regional Supervisor in Filipino for Secondary, Regional Information Officer, Regional ICT and Library Hub Coordinator.