DepEd: Christmas Party Contributions Should be Voluntary

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.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said that payment of such contributions shall not be made a requirement and 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.

Luistro said that any contribution in public schools should be voluntary, pointing 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.

He urged PTAs to minimize the amount of contributions for ceremonies and extra-curricular activities adding that all schools should keep celebrations such as Christmas parties simple yet meaningful.