By Jun
Enriquez
BNHS Multi-purpose hall |
Kapatagan,
Lanao del Norte – Several complaints from parents on school contributions
amounted to PhP570.00 per student at Bansarvil National High School (BNHS),
Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. Some parents of the students from
Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND) when learned the presence of the media visited the area on
September 6, 2017, approached and aired their sentiments about the problem why
should the school require them to pay the school contributions while in fact
the government program is free education. The media group in Iligan City including
this writer decided to proceed to BNHS to clarify about the complaint. Upon reaching
at BNHS to interview the school principal, Leonilo Gorecho, who was not around
due to some important appointment, the school teachers present were able to
talk about the complaints on school contributions.
There
are 1,200 students more or less enrolled at BNHS for school year 2017-2018.
The complaint was confirmed from the teachers upon having short conversation
with them while looking for other person to talk on behalf of the school
principal. One of the teachers said it is evident that some of the money
collected was used in the development of school-building. The teachers were
reminded that development of school-building is not the responsibility of the
parents but of the government.
Based on
Department of Education (DepEd) policy, there is the so called Maintenance and
Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) is the allocated funds for public elementary
and secondary schools that can be spent on activities and necessities (i.e.
electricity and water, etc.) that support learning programs and help maintain a
safe and healthy environment in schools. As a reminder from the DepEd, In
accordance with RA 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007), schools are mandated by
law to have a Transparency Board on MOOE posting all school expenditures using
the allocated funds.
During a
short interview with Lanao del Norte School Superintendent Emmalinda R.
Duhaylungsod, CESO V at her office in Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, asked if she
allowed collection of fees from the parents or students, she said any
contribution from school should be voluntary. Duhaylungsod said she will act to conduct
investigation about the parents’ complaint at BNHS and if found of any wrongdoings
will be dealt with accordingly.
In the
parents’ complaint, their children will not be cleared during closing of
classes if they could not pay the amount of PhP570.00 for the school
contribution. In this case, if not cleared from school at the end of school
year the student will not able to enroll during the opening of classes for the next
school year. On this situation the amount contribution of PhP570.00 is no
longer voluntary but in reality compulsory because it is already part of the mandatory school
clearance.
The
DepEd policy is free education and zero collection of fees from parents or
students. Asking the teachers about the breakdown of the PhP570.00
contribution, they mentioned only few of what they knew such as the Boy scout or
Girl scout fee of PhP50.00, insurance fee of PhP60.00, all subjects club fees,
such as Math club, science club, among others, without mentioning the amount and
other fees.
Upon
learning from other schools, the insurance is already inclusive in the Boy scout
or Girl scout fee. This should be supposed the concern to be clarified to the
school principal as to the breakdown of the amount.
On the following day Gorecho could not be reached for comment about the
parents’ complaint. He was called many times by this writer in his mobile phone
but to no avail it was only ringing without him answering. He was also advice to send with text
messages on his answers but no text messages received from him.
Information
gathered that allegedly Gorecho practiced collecting contributions from parents
or students through the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of being the school principal of BNHS. Gorecho served 1 year as Officer-in-charged (OIC) and four
years as regular Principal of BNHS.
Republic
Act 3019, known as the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, section 3, pa. h,
states that “Directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in
any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or
takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the
Constitution or by any law from having any interest.” In principle, any acts
disadvantageous to the people and the government is plain and simple
corruption.”
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