Pisay urged to pursue legal actions vs non-compliant scholars, parents

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Science High School should sue the scholars who did not pursue science or technology degrees in college, as well as their parents, the Commission on Audit said in its latest report.

This, after state auditors found that PSHS had failed to collect P6.58 million from some of its scholars who did not enroll in science or technology courses in college.

Receivables from errant scholars of the Cordillera Administrative Region Campus and Western Visayas Campus amounting P301,000 and P6.283 million, respectively, remained uncollected, COA noted in its report.

“The WVC management sent demand letters but the receivables remained uncollected because the scholars and their parents failed to heed the demands. On the other hand, CARC did not send demand letters,” COA said.

The commitment of scholars to pursue university degrees in science and technology after completion of the PSHS curriculum is one of the provisions in the scholarship agreement.

Non-compliance would require refund of the monetary value of the scholarship award.

As there is no provision in the scholarship agreement that would allow PSHS to pursue legal remedies against the defaulting scholars, COA recommended that the school system go after the scholars and their parents who breach the pact.

“We recommend that management consider adding provisions in the scholarship agreement on the legal actions that may be pursued against scholars and their parents/guardians for any breach of the agreement,” COA said

The agency also called on PSHS to require the campus directors of the CARC and WVC to enforce strictly the collection of the receivables by persistently sending demand letters to defaulting scholars or parents.

There were 7,882 students in the 16 campuses of PSHS last school year 2017 to 2018.