DepEd Leyte reiterates ‘no collection’ policy

PALO, Leyte, May 26 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte has reminded teachers and parents of the agency’s “no collection” policy upon enrollment of students for the June 5, 2017 opening of classes. 

Marie Joy Arias, DepEd Leyte senior education program specialist for social mobilization and networking, said they constantly reminded teachers and other stakeholders to uphold the agency’s no collection policy as mandated in DepEd Order No. 40 issued in 2012 and reiterated in DepEd Memorandum No. 143 issued last year. 

However, in the spirit of school preparation activities, Arias said that for those parents who insisted on donating an amount, they could convert their money into materials to be used by the school. 

“There are parents, in the spirit of 'Brigada Eskwela', they insist on donating. Schools can accept, but at the end of the day they should use the money to buy things that are in their work plan,” Arias said on Wednesday.

The order explicitly said that “no fees shall be collected from school children in Kindergarten up to Grade 4 any time during the school year; no collection of fees be made for Grade 5 to high school learners from June to July.” 

However, starting August until the end of the academic year, membership fees and contributions may be collected on a voluntary basis covering Boy Scouts of the Philippines (PHP50), Girl Scouts of the Philippines (PHP50), Philippine National Red Cross (PHP50), 

Anti-Tuberculosis Fund Drive (PHP5), Parents-Teachers Associations (reasonable amount to be determined through general assembly), school publication (PHP60), and membership in pupil/school organizations (based on existing school policies). 

The order also stressed that "in no case shall non-payment of voluntary school contributions or memberships shall be made as a basis for admission, non-promotion, or non-issuance of clearance to a student by the school concerned.”

Meanwhile, Veronicaliza Bautista, DepEd Leyte legal officer said that collecting money from the parents during the Brigada Eskwela is “actually a misconduct”. 

She said her office would be needing a formal complaint, which was under oath and in a proper form and substance before acting on it. 

“Definitely the stand of DepEd is we don’t tolerate teachers who require or not allowed clearances (of the students) to be released,” Bautista said. 

According to Bautista, complaints against the school or the teacher who allegedly violated DepEd policy have to be under oath, noting that some complaints are just “frivolous, aim to harass and stress the teachers.” 

She, however, maintained that her office also conducts fact-finding and validation for anonymous complaints via phone messages.

(Ronald O. Reyes/PNA)