AN EDUCATION official said no personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd) will be allowed to collect fees for end of school year rites.
City Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad said the moving up and graduation expenses for public schools should be charged to the school’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.
“There is no reason for schools to collect and for parents to contribute for any operational expenses for graduating or moving up,” Natividad clarified.
He said any contribution to the completion or graduation rites should come from the parents, with emphasis that all contributions are voluntary, and not be made a requirement for graduation.
The school division superintendent said non-academic projects like film viewing, junior and senior proms, and field trips also cannot be imposed as a requirement for clearance.
“It is not a requirement. It may be undertaken but they cannot say that if a student will not attend, they will not be issued clearance,” Natividad pointed out.
Natividad said graduation and completion rites should be simple but meaningful based on the directives of DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)