DepEd: No fees to be collected on school opening

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday reminded all school officials that collection of any fees during enrollment and the first days of class is strictly prohibited.

"We call on all teachers and school officials to see to it that we do not refuse a single student who wants to enroll. We strongly remind them that we do not collect any fees as a requirement for enrollment," Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Luistro added that certain contributions in public schools, while authorized by DepEd, do not mean that they are compulsory.

"These contributions remain voluntary,"  Luistro noted.

DepEd made the call anew to teachers, school officials and parents to encourage the community  to bring all school-aged children to school.

"Let me be clear on this: in no case shall non-payment of voluntary school contributions or membership fees be made a basis for non-admission, non-promotion or non-issuance of clearance to a student. And that includes withholding of school cards," Luistro said.

The fees which are authorized but not compulsory include Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts membership fees, Philippine National Red Cross, Anti-TB fund, school publication fee, and Parents Teachers Association fee.

Based on DepEd  Order 41, which remains in effect, Luistro  has directed all school officials that no fees shall be collected from school children in kindergarten up to Grade 4 anytime during school year.

For Grade 5 pupils up to fourth year high school students, there will be no collection from June to July.

However, starting August this year until the end of school year, the following fees may be collected on a voluntary basis:

P50 -  Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts membership fees

P35 - Philippine National Red Cross

P5 - Anti-TB fund drive

P60 - school publication fee for every elementary pupil

P90 - school publication fee for every high school student

The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) fee must be reasonable and is to be determined during the PTA general assembly, he said.

The PTA can only collect contributions starting August and only after presenting to the PTA members and to the school head/principal report on the utilization of previous school year’s collections and the school year proposed budget with program of activities.

"School fees should not intimidate parents into bringing their children to school  that is why I urge all school officials to strictly observe these  guidelines or face administrative sanctions,” Luistro said.

He added that PTA fees, even though approved by a majority of PTA members, still remain voluntary.

For his part, DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo said that government provides basic education free of charge to all citizens.

"Schools are not allowed to turn away students. Only in extreme cases of overpopulation can they do it. In such cases, some schools will opt for Alternative Delivery Modes," he said.

"Our public assistance station has received as total of 63 queries since Monday, some of them regarding compulsory contributions. In these cases, our team calls the schools and finds out the details. If the schools violate our strict prohibition on collection of fees, our legal department will send them a warning," Mateo added.

Mateo also advised parents to contact the DepEd public assistance station for any complaints, concerns, and questions at 636-1669, 633-1942, 0919-456-0027, and through [email protected].