There should be “no fees nor voluntary contributions” for the enrollment or graduation of students in any public schools in Quezon City.
In a proposed ordinance filed by Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, it will be unlawful for school authorities and members of Parents-Teachers Association (PTAs) in public schools in QC to require the payment of any fee or voluntary contribution prior to or as a condition for enrollment or graduation of students.
The councilor said that there are contributions allowed by the Department of Education (DepEd) to be collected from parents or students such as the boy/girl scouts membership, anti-TB fund drive, PTCA, school publication and membership in student organizations, but the same are on a voluntary basis and cannot be used as a requirement for the admission or graduation of students in schools.
Ludovica, who is also president of the QC Liga ng mga Barangay, said that there are some erring school authorities and PTA members who also make mandatory the collection of fees and contributions which should be given only on voluntary basis.
To thwart the said practices of some erring school authorities and PTA members, DepEd has issued an order for the implementation of “No collection policy” in all public elementary and secondary schools.
But, in pite of the said order, some school authorities and PTA members remain uncurbed in their practice of making the authorized contributions compulsory.
Ludovica said that these nefarious and illegal activities of some school authorities and PTA members have resulted in the continued increase in the number of our-of-school youth which is adversely affecting public order and safety and contributing to the problem of having so many street children in the metropolis.
Under the proposal, the school head or principal and the PTA president are mandated to post the school fees and voluntary contributions to be paid by students or parents in a bulletin board with a notification written in bold letters that the said fees are “on voluntary basis.”
A fine of P5,000 or an imprisonment of 1 year, or both at the discretion of the court, will be imposed on violators (school authorities and PTA members) of this ordinance.
If the school head/principal and PTA president violated the posting of the information, he/she will be fined P1,000. -30- Divine/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO
