School principals to ask Osmeña to keep Oliva

Elementary school principals in Cebu City have prepared a letter of appeal to Mayor Tomas Osmeña for the retention of Leonilo Oliva as city schools superintendent.

Lito Alberca, principal of Lahug Elementary School, said the Philippine Elementary School Principals Association of Cebu City would ask the mayor to retain Oliva in office until the latter's retirement in September next year.

The association has so far gathered 52 signatures out of its 70 members for the letter of appeal, and that principals of secondary schools would also do a similar appeal sooner, said Alberca.

Alberca said, "We hope the mayor would grant what we are appealing. Doctor Oliva has proven beyond doubt his days of spiritual and moral standards above his own personal integrity worthy of emulation by all school administrators."

He added that copies of the appeal letter would also be furnished to DepEd regional director Carolino Mordeno and education consultant Joy Young.

"We hope that Oliva will be given the constitutional right to due process before they will decide on the matter," Alberca said, citing the recent move of DepEd-7 to look for a possible replacement of Oliva as head of the city schools division.

Mordeno however said the impending transfer of Oliva was not connected to the latter's pet project of holding spiritual seminars in schools.

A recent Life in the Spirit Seminar got embroiled in controversy after 19 public school students accused a priest of sexually harassing them during confession.

Alberca defended the conduct of spiritual seminars in schools, saying such has been in accordance with DepEd Order No. 26, and Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution.

These provisions allow religion to be taught for free, with written approval of parents and guardians, to the children in public schools within regular class hours, by instructors with designation and approval from authorities of a religion of which the children belong. - Jasmin R. Uy