DepEd to issue order reiterating no mandatory collection policy

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said it will issue a reiteration of its order prohibiting mandatory collection from learners following reports that there are schools using the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to gather contributions from students.

«DepEd will issue a department order reiterating yung mga laws,» DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa told CNN Philippines' The Source, referring to Republic Act 4206, which prohibits the collection of contributions from students of public elementary and secondary schools.

During a Senate hearing on DepEd’s proposed 2024 budget, Sen. Raffy Tulfo revealed he has received complaints from a number of parents who claim that schools obligate them to donate through the PTA. The collections are being used to purchase electric fans, bond paper, and even for the salary of security guards and janitors.

Poa said DepEd cannot just intervene with the PTA since it is allowed to have its own rules, but the agency can investigate whether the contributions were done voluntarily or not.

While mandatory collections are prohibited, Poa said donations or voluntary contributions are allowed.

«There are instances when you have parents, our partners would donate certain things to the schools. Hindi namin pinagababawal 'yon (We do not prohibit that),” he said. „The question there is kung hindi nag-contribute yung isang parent naapektuhan ba 'yong bata (The question there is if one parent does not contribute, will this affect the child).“

DepEd has already asked for copies of the complaints so it can start its probe.