ILOILO City – Public schools and Department of Education (DepEd) offices are encouraged to hold Christmas parties that are simple yet meaningful.
In DepEd Order No. 052-2022, Vice President and Education secretary Sara Duterte said current economic realities call for austerity.
“The whole Department of Education (DepEd) community is urged to strive for a genuine celebration of hope, unity and service for others,” Duterte said.
As far as practicable, Christmas party themes, costumes, decorations, and exchange gifts should be voluntary and should not result to expenses that will become a burden to parents, students, and DepEd personnel.
It added that contributions for celebrations in schools or offices, whether in cash or in kind, should be strictly voluntary.
The order further emphasized that no learner or DepEd personnel should be forced to contribute, participate or use their money for the celebration, or shall be excluded from joining the Christmas celebration by reason of their failure to give the voluntary contribution or absence of a prepared gift.
The education department also reminded schools and DepEd offices to recycle old Christmas decors; purchase of new decors is not encouraged. No learner or DepEd personnel will be required to make decors specifically for a party.
Other guidelines on the conduct of Christmas parties or any other related celebrations are the following:
* Christmas parties in schools may be organized within class hours so long as it does not interfere with the scheduled lesson plans intended to be taught to the students
* Christmas get-togethers and other similar year-end activities should not compromise the provision of departmental services
* gift-giving should be guided by the spirit of sharing and should not lead to extravagant spending
* solicitations, whether in cash or in kind, are not allowed for Christmas parties or holiday celebrations
Schools division offices may also issue additional guidelines based on their local customs and traditions, subject to the DepEd guidelines.
Private schools, community learning centers, as well as state/local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs) may choose to adopt the provisions of the DepEd order as basis in the conduct of their own Christmas parties or celebrations./PN
