Is It Supposed To Be A Celebratory Occassion?

Tomorrow, all schools in S'pore will be celebrating Teachers' Day.
I thought it is understood that the atmosphere is going to be celebratory and all students will have a half day? Maybe, I don't follow the "policy" too well.

One school makes it sounds like a "reward" (for being able to sustain perfect punctuality and zero absenteeism). The classes with non-perfect punctuality will be asked to stay till their usual last period (for most, it would be till about 3pm) as a form of punishment. Okay, they are advised to do self-study on their own. But still, haiz..

How would the students remember the day? I am, of course, referring to the ones who will be asked to stay back. More than 10 classes, okay! Tell you the truth, the ones who are rewarded don't particularly feel good either. They feel sick of the system also.
As parents, we don't punish our kids during our birthdays, do we? Heh.. this is just an analogy. I mean it is supposed to be a celebratory occasion and usually we are more forgiving. There are other time for discipline.

The smarter kids are thinking, since they will be confined, they might as well don't turn up. Wrong! An even 'smarter' staff comes out with the idea of not accepting MCs even for tomorrow. I am thinking, if a sick student were to be silly enough to follow that equally silly instruction and were to drag his feet to the college tomorrow... and *touch wood*, something happen..
Dear college, you will be in deep shit.
Actually many of these students I know, were thinking of going back to their secondary schools to meet their teachers. So sorry, they will be trapped here. Just how much do that college value gratitude?

Anyway, I do understand the motives behind. I don't understand the actions. They just don't match well.

The celebratory day (tomorrow) is killed! I am feeling sick, both literally and figuratively. Mm..