Teachers urge DepEd to enforce 'no fee' policy

MANILA, Philippines - Public school teachers urged the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday to actively enforce their “no fee collection” policy and avoid confusion during the ongoing enrolment period.

Emmalyn Policarpio, spokesperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said they have already conveyed their suggestions to DepEd Secretary Mona Dumlao-Valisno in a dialogue yesterday and that their inputs were well taken by the DepEd chief.

Policarpio said they recommended that the different organizations that are supposed to receive “voluntary contributions” from students – such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, the Philippine National Red Cross, the Philippine Anti-TB Fund, and the Parent-Teachers Association – should send their own personnel to collect the contributions.

She said giving teachers the task of collecting the contributions puts them in a difficult spot each time complaints arise.

Policarpio said the TDC also wants DepEd to clarify whether the “no mandatory ID and school uniform” policy would be observed this school year.

She also said they called on Valisno to reduce the maximum class size from 60 students to 45. Policarpio said aside from straining teachers’ capacities, large class sizes also result in a poor learning environment.

“We are happy that Secretary Valisno accepted all our recommendations and she promised to look into the adoption or implementation of these,” Policarpio said.