Talisay dad cautions schools on collection of contributions

Talisay City Councilor Richel Bacaltos, through a proposed resolution he would present to the council today, would urge City Schools Division Superintendent Carmelita Dulangon to keep an eye on the collection of voluntary contributions and other fees imposed by public elementary and secondary schools on students.

Bacaltos said it is in the constitutional mandate that students in public elementary and secondary schools "shall be enrolled without having to pay any amount as requirement for enrollment."

Department of Education Order No. 23 series of 2003 or the Revised Guidelines for Government Parent-Teacher Association or Parents-Teachers Community Association, as Bacaltos stipulated in this resolution, stated that it is a rule that "no collection shall be imposed upon students/pupils/parents in the schools, except those enumerated by law, namely: Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Red Cross contributions."

However, the same guidelines have allowed the PTA/PTCA to collect financial contribution from its members to sustain its school-related programs. But, this contribution "shall be made on a voluntary basis," and must be approved first by the board of directors before its implementation.

"Non-payment of such contribution by the parent-member shall not be a basis for non-admission and non-issuance of clearances of his/her child/children," reads the DepEd Order.

And, "no teacher of any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities."

Non-compliance to this order means a cancellation of the organization's accreditation or the filing of appropriate charges.

"This request would seek clarification and would try to check if the abovementioned in the order have been complied with in the public schools in the city," reads the proposed resolution.

During the enrolment in Talisay City Central School last month, parents were puzzled why they were asked to pay P320 for each of their children enrolled in this school.

Although, they could still get their children enrolled without having to pay the sum first, but parent Shirley Pelostratos, told The Freeman, that they would still have to pay at the end of the school term so that they could get their children's report cards. Pelostratos has three children attending in this school.

The amount includes fees for the barangay tanod, Red Cross, Boy/Girl Scout of the Philippines, PTCA, "Sustaining," Anti-Tuberculosis, forms, clubs, testing materials, miscellaneous (light and water), and school maintenance. - Liv G. Campo