In a statement, Education Secretary Florencio Abad said parents could not be prevented from enrolling their children if they fail to fork over fees charged by PTAs and Parent-Teacher Community Associations (PTCAs), which should be on a purely voluntary basis.
Violators of this rule will be placed under preventive suspension, he added.
"The Constitution states that every child has the right to a free education. They should not be prevented from going to school just because they cannot give contributions," Abad said in Filipino.
He earlier issued a department order saying that students in public elementary and secondary schools should be enrolled without paying the amounts, often described as "charitable contributions" and "fund raising fees."
Contributions for fund-raising campaigns, whether for student activities or for upgrading school facilities, can only be collected from students after they have enrolled and payment should be completely voluntary, according to Abad’s order.
The DepEd order states that the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Philippine National Red Cross and the Anti-Tuberculosis Education and Fund Drive are authorized to collect voluntary contributions from students in public schools.
Where it is applicable, public schools are also allowed to collect voluntary contributions for their school newspapers, though these must not exceed P50 for each elementary student and P75 for each high school student.
Student organizations recognized by DepEd may also collect voluntary contributions not exceeding P50 per student, and should collect them through the PTA or PTCA of the school.
The DepEd order prohibits public schools from requiring students to pay contributions before allowing enrollment, or the release of report cards, test results and clearances.
It also prohibits public schools from requiring parents to sign promissory notes for contributions they are unable to pay, discriminating between those who contribute and those who do not, and shaming those who cannot pay.
Teachers and other school personnel are banned from collecting the contributions, according to the order, which said organizations asking for contributions should assign their own representatives or coordinate with the PTA or PTCA of the school so that the treasurer of either group could collect the contributions on their behalf.
Abad also ordered each public school to post an announcement at the school’s entrance, stating that enrollment does not require the payment of contributions or fees and these are not prerequisites for enrollment and are voluntary in nature.
PTAs and PTCAs shall submit a financial report on how they utilized the fees collected during the school year, he said.
Other organizations authorized by the DepEd to collect voluntary contributions shall also submit financial reports for the school year. Abad said their failure to do so means they will be banned from collecting contributions during the next school year.