The Department of Education announced earlier that there will no graduation rites among graduating students across the Philippines, but there will be “Moving Up” ceremonies. This year’s graduation theme accordint to DepEd is “Kabataang Mula sa K to 12, Tagapagdala ng Kaunlaran sa Bansang Pilipinas.”
The DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro also urged school heads not to invite politicians as graduation speakers but instead they should invite speakers who were distinguished members of the alumni to serve as an inspiration to their students.
Based upon experience the DepEd Secretary stated that graduates and their guests could better relate to ordinary people speaking to them than politicians and other prominent personalities. Only few in the audience were listening to the speeches of politicians compared to an ordinary guests or distinguished member of the alumni.
Bro. Armin Luistro als ntoed that it was high time that the tradition of inviting politicians to speak was changed since it appeared that people would rather listen to “ordinary people who give them inspiration.”
The Department of Education has reminded school heads that moving up and graduation ceremonies should be simple but meaningful events promoting “civil rights, a sense of community and personal responsibility.” DepEd also stated that nonacademic activities—like field trips, film showings, the junior-senior prom and the like—should not be made a requirement for graduation.
He said school personnel were not allowed to collect fees or contributions for moving up or graduation ceremonies.