By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay | Philippine News Agency
Graduation and moving-up ceremonies must be simple, and parents are discouraged from giving money bouquets and garlands, said an official of the Department of Education – Schools Division Office of Antique province on Wednesday.
“As the 537 public elementary and secondary schools in Antique hold their graduation ceremonies starting today, the principals and school heads are reminded to keep their ceremonies as simple as possible,” said Eric Cortejo, DepEd Antique Schools Management Monitoring and Evaluation Education Program Specialist II in an interview.
He said the same reminder goes to the 69 private schools in Antique also conducting commencement rites.
“Parents, if possible, are also being told to refrain from giving their children ‘money garlands’ or bouquets to their graduating children,” he said.
Simplicity is encouraged even if graduation and recognition ceremonies are forms of celebration after all the sacrifices that parents had to endure in sending their children to school, he added.
Cortejo made this request after he observed parents giving money bouquets and garlands to their children during a recognition ceremony on Wednesday.
He said that not all can afford to do the same, so it would be better if parents refrain from doing it to avoid any issues.
Cortejo added that schools are advised not to have special numbers that will entail learners to spend on expensive or extravagant costumes.
Contributions for food, stage decorations, and other expenses during the graduation are also not allowed except if these are made voluntarily by parents.
Around 35,278 learners from Grade 12, Grade 10, and Grade 6 are joining the completion and moving up ceremonies this school year 2023-2024.