Simple graduation rites in Quezon City public schools, Quezon City Polytechnic University

MANILA, Philippines - Graduation will be conducted in simple but solemn rites in all Quezon City public elementary and high schools this school year, Division of City Schools Superintendent Dr. Victoria Fuentes announced.

During Wednesday’s regular executive staff meeting at the QC Hall Bulwagan, Fuentes said the school division will strictly enforce the guidelines set by the Department of Education (DepEd) regulating the conduct of graduation rites in both elementary and high school levels.

DepEd’s Order No. 15, S-2009 prohibits the collection of any graduation fee or any graduation contribution from graduating students. It also encourages the holding of graduation rites within the school premises, among others.

A total of 39,565 students are graduating from the city’s public elementary schools, and 31,226 from secondary schools this school year.

She reported that this year’s graduation rites are focus on the theme “My Education: My Contribution to the Future” (Edukasyon Ko: Handog Ko sa Kinabukasan) to be held between March 28 to April 3, 2009.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. invited graduating students, particularly deserving ones, to take advantage of the city government’s scholarship program under the QC Scholarship and Youth Development Program (SYDP), which grants full or half college scholarship to qualifying high school graduates.

The scholarship program automatically includes high school valedictorians and salutatorians, who are given full and half scholarship, respectively.

To date, the QC government has 15,000 scholars called Iskolar ng Bayan, enrolled in various colleges and universities in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ofelia Carague, president and executive director of the city-owned QC Polytechnic University (QCPU) said the graduation rites for the 258 students who have completed their degree courses is on March 31, with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Emmanuel Angeles as guest of honor. Graduation rites for 335 students of technical courses is on April 2, she said.

Carague said that both activities will be held at the Amoranto Sports Complex on Roces Ave. starting at 2 p.m.