DepEd investigates violations of 'no fee' policy

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) is already looking into 13 complaints of public schools violating its “no fee collection” policy.

Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, DepEd spokesman, said the DepEd’s Action Center has so far received 10 complaints about the illegal collection of fees in the National Capital Region (NCR) and three similar complaints from the provinces.

“We are asking these schools to explain why there are persistent and numerous reports from the public that collections are going on,” he said.

Malaya said the complainants alleged that a student is not allowed to enroll unless they pay the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) fee or the identification (ID) card fee.

He said ID cards cannot be charged to students because the cost of the ID had already been integrated into the school’s maintenance and other operating expenses funds.

He also that the collection of authorized voluntary contributions are only allowed for those in grade five up to fourth year high school but only on the second month of classes and only on a voluntary basis.

The authorized voluntary contributions are P50 for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines/Boy Scouts of the Philippines (GSP/BSP); P5 for the Anti-TB Fund; and school publication fees, which is P60 for elementary students and P90 for high school students.

He also clarified that the PTA fee may only be collected after the PTA has presented a report of the previous year’s collection to their members and the school administration.

Education Secretary Mona Dumlao-Valisno said the DepEd will vigorously investigate any complaints from students and their parents regarding fees that will be collected from students seeking enrollment.

She reiterated DepEd’s long standing policy that no fee, including any of the authorized voluntary contributions, may be collected in all public schools from elementary to high school from the enrollment period until the first month of classes.

The DeEd has opened its Oplan Balik Eskwela Action Center in Pasig City to attend to complaints, queries, and suggestions from the public. Similar action centers have also been opened in various DepEd field offices. The public may call (02) 636-1663 and (02) 638-7529 to 31 for assistance.