Parents complains on allege illegal school fees in Bansarvil Nat’l High School

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.

BNHS principal's office at close mode.

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.

DepEd Provincial office, Pigcarangan, Tubod, LDN

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.” 

The complaining parents mostly living below poverty line who are fishermen and farmers, urged the government especially the DepEd to investigate the BNHS fees of PhP570.00 per student considered to be illegal, if proven must penalize the culprit accordingly. The parents said the alleged corrupt practices on school contributions must be stopped. Photos by Jun Enriquez; published at MGSD by Nora Sorino.