Beware of illegal school collections

EDITORIAL

School administrators and teachers have been directed by the Department of Education to strictly complywith the ‘no collection policy’ guideline issued by the DepEd with the opening of classes to avoid administrative sanctions.

Based on DepEd Order 41 series of 2012, no fees shall be collected from school children in kindergarten up to Grade 4 anytime during school year 2012-2013.

 No collection is also allowed for Grade 5 pupils up to fourth year high school students from June to July.

 The guideline states that on a voluntary basis the following fees may be collected from Grade 5 to 6 school children starting August 2012 until the end of school year in 2013: Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts membership fees of P50; Philippine National Red Cross, P35; Anti-TB fund drive, P5; school publication fee of P60 for elementary pupils and P90 for every high school students. The Parents-Teachers Association fee must be reasonable and  determined during PTA general assemblies.

It is also stipulated that “no teacher, school officials and personnel” shall collect fees/contributions nor shall they be entrusted with safekeeping and disbursement of collections made by the PTA pursuant to the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

The ‘no collection policy’ was conceptualized by the DepEd to encourage more parents to bring their children to school without being intimidated by school fees.

As a measure to resolve issues, DepEd has also included in its  Oplan Balik Eskwela program the setting up of an Information Action Center at the  Division Office to tackle concerns  and  for the immediate resolution of any issues and concerns in public schools.