Pamekasan Education Office Bans School Graduations and Study Tours

The Pamekasan Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud) is urging all educational units under its auspices not to hold graduation processions or study tours for final-year students. Head of Disdikbud Pamekasan, Akhmad Basri Yulianto, stated that this advisory has been conveyed through a circular letter to the schools. The policy is intended to ensure that farewell activities do not become a burden on students’ parents, particularly in terms of costs. “Starting from 2025, we have issued a circular letter to schools not to hold graduations. We are concerned that such activities could burden parents,” said Basri on Tuesday (12/5). Nevertheless, he noted that some schools are still organising alternative activities such as art performances, agreed upon jointly by the school committee and parents. With the condition that these activities do not financially burden parents. According to Basri, art performances are considered more relevant because they provide a platform for students to showcase the results of their arts and culture learning that they have studied at school throughout the year. “If it’s an art performance, we have no objection, because from the beginning they have been taught arts and culture. If it’s just a subject without a stage, it certainly cannot measure how far the children have absorbed knowledge in arts, culture, and others,” he explained. In addition to graduations, the regency administration is also urging schools not to hold study tours for similar reasons, namely to avoid additional expenses that burden parents. As a replacement, schools are asked to prioritise activities that support the creativity and potential development of students.