ILOILO City – To protect from extreme heat the learners, parents and guardians attending graduation and moving-up ceremonies for school year 2023-2024, the Department of Education (DepEd) has advised schools to hold these events indoors.
Memorandum No. 023, Series of 2024 issued on May 2 sets the guidelines for conducting graduation and moving-up ceremonies scheduled from May 29 to May 31, 2024.
Given the expected hot weather conditions until the end of May, DepEd has added a guideline to ensure the safety of attendees.
Schools are advised to hold events indoors, particularly in well-ventilated areas or covered courts, to avoid exposure to excessive heat.
Also, schools have the discretion to schedule ceremonies early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and are advised to avoid midday events.
This directive allows schools to determine the best times for their ceremonies based on local weather conditions.
According to DepEd-6 regional information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., the ceremonies will include Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 10, and Grade 12 students, as well as Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners who have satisfactorily met the curriculum requirements by the end of the school year.
A key point in the guidelines is that the ceremonies should be simple yet meaningful, without imposing financial burdens on parents.
“We do not want our parents and learners to spend excessively,” Escullar told Panay News.
The theme for this year’s End-Of-School-Year (EOSY) rites is “Kabataan Pilipino Para sa Matatag na Kinabukasan ng Bagong Pilipinas”, emphasizing the role of education in empowering Filipino youth as future leaders of a strong and progressive nation.
The memorandum also specifies that no DepEd personnel are allowed to collect any fees from parents or guardians for the graduation and moving-up ceremonies. All related expenses should be charged to the School Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
Here are the other updated guidelines on the annual conduct of EOSY rites:
* Graduation and moving-up ceremonies shall be conducted without extravagant attire or extraordinary venues.
* Non-academic projects such field trips, film showings, Junior-Senior Promenade, and other school events shall not be imposed as graduation or completion requirements.
Escullar said private schools are also covered by Memorandum No. 023, Series of 2024 although some private schools have their own policies on ceremonies for graduation and moving-up./PN
