Pursuant to the Constitutional and statutory mandate that public elementary and secondary education shall be free, and in line with the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to remind schools that graduation rites should be lean on cost but long on the imparting of valuable messages; that graduation rites should not be exercises in splurging and display of pomp and pageantry but should be Spartan affairs that exhort civic duties, sense of community and personal responsibilities; and that graduation rites can be memorable, exciting and animated without the baggage of extra cost and excessive spending, you are hereby reminded and directed of the following:

1. Public school heads, teachers, and other school personnel shall not be allowed to collect any kind of contribution for graduation rites.
2. Graduation exercises shall be held in school premises in the most austere manner. No extravagant special attires/togas shall be required.
3. Annual yearbook should be discouraged and be considered non-obligatory.
4. The graduation rites shall be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony, befitting the graduating students and their parents and shall not in any way be used as a venue for any political activity.

This DepEd Order supersedes all previous DepEd Orders on graduation rites which may be inconsistent with this Order.

Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.