(Eagle News) — Inviting candidates to graduations is “highly discouraged” this election season, the Department of Education said on Tuesday, March 5.
In a statement, the DepEd said that while the act was not prohibited per se, it, after all, may still be “misinterpreted as an endorsement of a candidate” by principals and teachers.
If, however, the invitation of a candidate or his or her attendance in a graduation was done due to a “valid and compelling reason,” school officials should make sure this does “not degenerate into an endorsement or solicitation of votes,” the DepEd said.
“The graduation speaker should stick to the theme, and not bring campaign materials or paraphernalia,” the DepEd said.
“The acts of electioneering and partisan politics are enumerated in (an) earlier issued (DepEd) memorandum, and all officers and employees of DepEd are enjoined to be guided accordingly,” the DepEd added.
The elections are slated in May.