Manila, March 23 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday directed all public schools nationwide to keep end-of-school-year ceremonies modest and economical in response to the surging fuel prices.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara urged all public schools to refrain from unnecessary spending to alleviate the financial burdens on Filipino families.

"Our schools must prioritize the welfare of learners by keeping these ceremonies simple, meaningful, and entirely free of unnecessary expenses," he said.

Under Memorandum No. 015 series of 2026, schools were directed to refrain from renting expensive venues for end-of-school-year (EOSY) rites and utilize simple venues, like school grounds or covered courts instead.

The...