Pangasinan public school returns graduation ‘contributions’ after parent complains

 

A school in Pangasinan on Wednesday "returned" to graduating students a "graduation contribution" it collected from them after a parent lodged a complaint before the Department of Education.

 

The complaint over the "contribution" at the Manaoag National High School was lodged before the DepEd's Pangasinan II division, GMA Dagupan's CJ Torida reported Thursday on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."

 

The school returned to each student a "contribution" of P365, but will still hold simple graduation rites this Friday.

The DepEd has a standing guideline that public schools cannot require students to contribute money for the graduation rights.

 

But school principal Rebecca Cansino said many parents are not happy with the complaint.

 

"Ang mga parents nga noon nagagalit. Sabi nila, bakit iisa lang ang nagrereklamo, bakit lahat kami madadamay? Hindi naman sa walang graduation. Meron, kaya lang simple lang," she said.

 

School funds will be used for expenses such as toga rentals and the production of the diplomas.

 

The sound system will be borrowed from the local government.

 

"Hindi kami nag-solicit sa pulitiko ng monetary, ng money... Ang ni-request lang namin is yung sound system," Cansino said.

 

Meanwhile, some students felt bad they could not celebrate much, noting they had no junior-senior prom. But others said they would be happy with a simple graduation because they had other expenses. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News