QC backs austere graduation rites

The Quezon City government fully supports the guideline issued by the Department of Education to all public elementary and secondary schools officials to observe austerity measures in the conduct of their 2007 graduation ceremonies.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the city government supports the move of DepEd Secretary Jeslie Lapus believing that what matters most is what the students have learned during their stint in schools and not how their graduation is conducted.

The DepEd directive also set specific period, from March 26 to 30 as the graduations date. The theme of the graduation rites is "Student Empowerment: Towards Greater Productivity. ( Lakas ng Kabataan" Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan)

The order prohibits the collection of any graduation fees or any kind of contribution for the graduation rites in all public schools.

The prohibition, however, does not apply to Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs), which may solicit contributions from their members for the ceremonies and celebrations. The principals and teachers however, should not be involved in the collection of said contributions and fees but must be done on voluntary basis.

Students are also not required to wear extravagant special attire and graduation rites must not be done in extraordinary venue.

City Schools Division chief, Dr. Victoria Fuentes, said that all are now set for the coming graduation ceremonies of public elementary and secondary schools in the city for their compliance.

"The public elementary and high schools in Quezon City will observe the austerity and simplicity measure on the conduct of the graduation program to help parents of the graduating students to cope with the present financial crisis," Fuentes said. – Perseus Echeminada