Dec 142014
No collections for Christmas parties.
This was the stern reminder to public schools from the Department of Education, which also exhorted them to keep such parties simple.
“The payment of such contributions shall not be made a requirement. Non-payment of voluntary school contributions shall not be made as a basis for non-admission, non-promotion, or non-issuance of clearance to a student—including the withholding of school cards,” DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said.
He stressed any contribution in public schools should be voluntary.
Luistro also pointed out that while Parents-Teachers Associations may collect financial contributions for the benefit of the students, the fees should be voluntary and agreed upon in a general assembly.
Still, he urged PTAs to minimize the amount of contributions for ceremonies and extra-curricular activities.
More importantly, he urged all schools to keep celebrations such as Christmas parties simple yet meaningful. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News
