DepEd-6 orders simple, fee-free graduation rites

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Education Regional Office VI has reiterated that public schools must not collect any fees from students for graduation or moving-up ceremonies for School Year 2025–2026.

The directive is reinforced through DepEd Memorandum No. 015, series of 2026, which prohibits any form of contribution or collection from learners and teachers for graduation or moving-up rites.

The policy is in line with DepEd Order No. 19, series of 2008, or the Implementation of the No Collection Policy in All Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.

The no-collection policy was first issued in 2008 to address longstanding complaints from parents about mandatory contributions imposed by some public schools for various activities, including graduation ceremonies, despite public education being constitutionally guaranteed as free.

In a press briefing on March 11, DepEd-6 Regional Director Cristito A. Eco said that expenses for graduation ceremonies should be charged to the school’s maintenance and other operating expenses and not collected from students or parents.

“If there are those who want to give, that is allowed, but it should be treated as a donation and not a collection,” he said.

He clarified that if a Parent-Teacher Association decides to raise funds, participation must remain voluntary and not mandatory.

He also explained that mandatory collections could affect learners whose families cannot afford additional expenses and may discourage them from attending graduation rites.

Schools that violate the policy may face administrative cases, which will be coordinated through the regional office once sufficient evidence is submitted, he added.

DepEd-6 Curriculum and Learning Management Division Chief Donald T. Genine announced that the end-of-school-year rites for kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 10, and Grade 12 students are scheduled for March 30 or 31, 2026.

The ceremonies will coincide with the official end of classes on March 31, which began on June 16, 2025.

Genine emphasized that graduation and moving-up ceremonies should remain simple and meaningful, discouraging extravagant spending, costly attire, or expensive venues.

He also noted that nonacademic activities — such as field trips, film showings, or junior-senior promenades — must not be imposed as requirements for graduation or promotion.

This year’s graduation theme is “Filipino Graduates: Prepared to Lead with Competence and Character” (“Pilipinong Nagsipagtapos: Handang Mamuno nang May Kakayahan at Mabuting Pagkatao”).

Based on data from the department’s Learner Information System as of Jan. 17, around 170,767 learners in the region are expected to graduate, including 83,781 Grade 6 pupils completing elementary education and 86,986 Grade 12 students finishing senior high school.

Of the total graduates, 150,962 are from public schools, 19,595 from private schools, and 210 from state and local universities and colleges offering basic education.

A total of 821,042 learners are expected to move up to the next grade level.

The figure includes 476,339 pupils from kindergarten to Grade 5, 259,681 learners from Grades 7 to 9, and 85,022 Grade 11 students advancing to the next level.

Of the total, 741,023 are from public schools, 78,182 from private schools, and 1,837 from state and local universities and colleges offering basic education.

To ensure the safety of participants amid the summer heat, schools are advised to hold ceremonies in indoor venues or covered courts with proper ventilation and avoid the hottest hours of the day.

Schools were also reminded to finalize recognitions at least five days before the end-of-school-year rites to allow sufficient time for coordination and preparation.