Collection of fees in public schools banned: DepEd

EDITORIAL

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro has warned erring school administrators and teachers on the Department of Education’s policy against illegal fee collection in all public schools to encourage more parents to send their children to school and complete basic education.

Luistro said the policy is enshrined in the Constitution and DepEd is serious in the enforcement of the policy especially in its all-out bid to increase the completion and participation rates in public schools.

Luistro said “Our goal here is to lessen the worries of parents about school fees which is one of the reasons why many children are out of school or have dropped-out in the middle of schooling. If schools are collecting fees, we will be discouraging enrollment especially among the very poor. This is also why we have taken serious action against schools officials violating this policy,”

In reiterating the department’s appeal, Luistro said that no fees shall be collected from school children enrolling in pre-school up to Grade 4 at any time during the school year.

For the levels beyond Grade 4, there should be no collection during enrolment period and the first month of classes.

Contributions, on a purely voluntary basis, may start on the second month of every school year. This covers contributions for Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Red Cross, Anti-Tuberculosis Fund and Parents-Teachers Association.

DepEd has taken an aggressive position to put every school-aged child in school at no cost as part of its Education for All (EFA) commitment, a promise of 100 percent enrollment of all children and youth of school age by 2015.

Luistro said the no collection policy is one of government’s anti-poverty measures. Through this, parents can instead use the money for other important needs such as food and transportation fare.

Aside from the no collection policy, DepEd has prohibited all public schools from imposing on students the wearing of uniform or of IDs which may also become a financial burden for parents. The government has allotted budget to shoulder the expense for identification cards.

Luistro also made it clear that the Parents Teachers Association is the only recognized entity to collect voluntary financial contributions. However, non-payment of the contribution by the parent-member shall not be a basis for non-admission or non-issuance of clearances to the child by the school.

“No teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities,” Luistro reiterated.

DepEd has advised concerned citizens to report any violation of these policies through DepEd’s DeTXT Action Center at tel. no. 6361663. Complaints may also be sent via email at action@deped.gov.ph.