In a text message to The STAR, Lapus said he recently instructed DepEd National Capital Region (NCR) Director Teresita Domalanta to investigate allegations against some of the schools that allegedly "sold" review materials to students in preparation for the NCAE, administered to high school students last Jan. 17.
In a forwarded text message, Lapus said Domalanta had conducted an immediate investigation against schools accused of selling these materials and concluded that the allegations were not true.
"Faxed to OSEC (Office of the Secretary) results of investigations and interviewed schools identified. Not selling reviewers but utilizing available review materials for NAT (National Achievement Test). However, there are private individuals offering review materials. I already issued a memo prohibiting selling in schools. Monitoring still ongoing, sir," said Domalanta in her text message to Lapus the other night.
Earlier, members of the militant group League of Filipino Students (LFS) from two schools, Ramon Magsaysay High School and Elpidio Qurino High School, alleged that the schools have been selling review materials for about P65 a copy and expressed fears that there would be a "whitewash" in the investigation conducted by education officials.
"This early, education officials were denying there were no collections of fees while at the same saying they would conduct probe over the matter," said Hiyas Laya Garduce, a third year student from the Elpidio Quirino High School in Quezon City.