Ong Ye Kung's reassurance that missing graduation ceremonies is okay sparks unhappiness among graduates

For many, a graduation ceremony is a milestone that marks the end of their journey as a student, and the beginning of another as a working adult.

Unfortunately, some 32,500 students from the five polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) would have to miss out on their graduation ceremony this year. That meant receiving their diplomas, certificates and transcripts through the mail instead.

The decision to cancel the ceremonies was not an easy one to make, but a necessary one in order to adhere to the government's heightened social distancing measures during the coronavirus outbreak. Nonetheless, it left many students feeling disappointed.

Despite Education Minister Ong Ye Kung's attempt at reassuring students that missing out on a graduation ceremony was not as big a deal as it seemed — by sharing his own experiences (or lack thereof) — it appeared to have struck the wrong chord for some.

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In Ong's Facebook post on Saturday (April 11), one student questioned: "From your post, it looks like since there is no meaning in graduation for you, why not cancel all graduation ceremonies in the future then since everyone will not remember. Other cohorts will be graduating with their graduation ceremony, and we will be graduating in 'pdf' online lmao"

"While a lot of them said they don't think graduation ceremony is a big thingy but still, people like us will be sad for our life if our grad is cancelled," another lamented.

One particular student even called Ong's post irrelevant, stating: "As a student who is graduating this year, I am upset our ceremony has been cancelled. It's a ceremony to celebrate on our accomplishment [sic]. This isn't comparable Nor has anything to do with your own experiences on why you didn't attend your ceremony [sic]."

It wasn't as though Ong had brushed the ceremonies off as unimportant, but due to the invisible nature of the coronavirus, it would be safer to call them off than "trigger a cluster of infections."

"A happy occasion will become a tragedy," Ong wrote.

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Rather than outright cancellations of the ceremonies, students pleaded to have the events postponed till after the outbreak is controlled.

On the other hand, many others chimed in support of Ong.

A mother shared that she had looked forward to attending her daughter's graduation, "but I know the consequences if something happened".

"You are not alone," another reassured. "Many are in the same boat, missing the significant moments. Having the right values, mindset and understanding surpass the once in a lifetime event; especially in this sober time [sic]."

rainercheung@asiaone.com