DEPED SAYS NO MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS, SOLICITATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES

LEVITA C. MANALUS

The Department of Education said that public schools should not to impose mandatory contributions or solicitations for their students’Christmas parties.

According to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the DepEd is reminding schools of earlier memorandum from 2009 – that contributions for celebrations should be strictly voluntary. No one, she said, will be obliged to give.

Briones added that Christmas decorations in classrooms and schools should be simple and inexpensive.

She urges the use of recycled decorations, even though people would tend to think that their decorations have been the same for many years. This, she said, is a very common p r act i ce.

Stressing that gift-giving must be done in the spirit of sharing, Briones reminded teachers and students to refrain from extravagant spending.

She also said any disruption of academic activities to make way for Christmas parties must be voluntary.

Elementary and secondary students in public schools nationwide will have their Christmas break on December 15 up to January, while classes will resume on January 2, 2019.

Meanwhile, an official of DepEd assured that all teachers and personnel will receive their bonuses for the year.

The Department will make sure that everyone – all employees – will receive the anniversary bonus of P3,000, as well as the year-end bonus.

The DepEd issued the guidelines on the distribution of the anniversary bonus as early as October.

Because the DepEd is a big organization, it might take time for teachers and personnel in remote schools to receive their bonuses.

The DepEd has worked hard to implement an increase in the allowances and the benefits stated in the Magna Carta for Teachers and other personnel.

There will also be an increase for chalk allowance slated in 2019.

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The author is Teacher III at Cacutud Elementary School