DepEd advises parents to coordinate with school for fees refund

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday advised parents to coordinate with school authorities regarding the expenses paid for the graduation or moving up ceremonies of their children.

"Wag ho magalala [...] kung meron pong nabayaran na, make sure na makipag coordinate sa eskwelahan at malaman ninyo kung kelan safe na magkakaroon ng consultation,"  DepEd spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said  in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

According to Sevilla, both schools and parents may choose to reschedule the graduation ceremonies or completely forgo these amid the enhanced community quarantine.

"[P]uwede niyo po i-reschedule. The schedule can also be indefinite, halimbawa, kung talagang mahirap next year na. Magkikita na lang siguro at a reunion ng mga eskwela," she said.

"Pero pwede rin po nila i-forgo. Forgo meaning wala nang seremonya pero ibibigay pa rin natin ang mga diploma, ibibigay pa rin ang mga grado," she added.

The parents will not receive a refund if the ceremony will be rescheduled, and must receive one should it be scrapped, according to Sevilla.

"[K]ung rescheduled andyan pa po yung bayad niyo kasi mangyayari po siya. Pero kung forgo, i-refund po dapat 'yun," Sevilla said.

Though she acknowledged the importance of the ceremonies for the parents and their children, Sevilla explained that these were canceled in accordance with social distancing measures.

"Ang pinaka-importante ay masunod po natin 'yung social distancing measure ng [Department of Health]," she said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News