WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS primary and secondary schools will hold their annual graduation ceremonies. These graduations are among the most eagerly anticipated events on the school calendar for students, parents and teachers.
For students, graduation represents their passage from one stage of their education to another, and even into the world of work.
For parents, it is usually a proud moment, when their sacrifices for that child can be enjoyed through his/her achievements.
And for teachers, it marks the end of their years of moulding students into a group of young people who have the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and habits to become productive citizens.
So graduation ceremonies are a big deal. They not only celebrate those students who have successfully met the academic and extracurricular requirements during their tenure at school, but they symbolically say that children who have reached this stage have been educated in line with our acceptable national moral concepts, and are prepared for life and the next education level according to their interests and skills.
Graduations are, in essence, a rite of passage. They signify the commencement of a student’s next phase in life rather than marking the end of one stage. That’s why the keynote speeches at these events tend to focus on the need for children to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from that level of schooling in their future endeavours.
Given this, it is important that all children, as long as they have satisfied the criteria to graduate, participate in this event. It would be most unfortunate if any child is unable to enjoy this last celebration with his peers because of financial constraints.
We fear, however, that the trend of increasingly elaborate ceremonies, particularly at the primary school level, is pushing the cost of graduations beyond the means of some parents.
For example, one primary school this year has given each child in its two graduation classes two sponsor sheets, which together should realise $212. This is supposed to be the child’s donation towards their graduation.
However, the total amount from all of these sheets distributed will only represent a quarter of the cost of hosting the ceremony. What’s more, in spite of raising this money, each child must still pay for their own sash, which often retails at between $35 and $60.
At this same school, a graduation dinner at a leading hotel is planned and the cost per parent is $100.
At another school, sponsor sheets with no less than $100 expected per sheet were given to the students of the graduating class. And as an incentive to get that and other sheets filled, the prize of a bicycle for the child who brings in the most money is on offer. Parents or guardians, though, will still have to contribute $15 each for refreshments at the event, and each child must purchase a sash for $50.
While we understand the desire of each school to seek to host the best and most talked about graduation, at the end of the day the ceremony is really about the children and their achievement.
Therefore, the cost of hosting these events should in no way prevent any child from participating. This is especially important at this time when many households are facing runaway food prices, escalating energy costs and unemployment.
So though we wholeheartedly support this annual exercise, particularly at the primary level, we urge that costs be kept to a minimum so that every child who should graduate can do so.
