DepEd reiterates no enrollment fees policy in public schools
Collection of school fees is not a prerequisite to enrollment in public elementary and high schools.
This was reiterated by Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli A. Lapus as the country prepares for the opening of classes in public schools nationwide on June 4.
"Public school students should be enrolled without being compelled to pay fees," Lapus said. "Contributions, whether for student activities or for upgrading of school facilities, can only be collected from students on a voluntary basis," Lapus added.
DepEd allows the collection of voluntary contributions for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Red Cross and Anti-TB Education and Fund Drive. It also allows the collection of voluntary contributions for the school paper and DepEd recognized student organizations.
DepEd Order 20 strictly prohibits public schools from requiring payment of contributions before admission, release of report cards or test results or clearances. Moreover, it disallows requiring parents to sign promissory notes for contributions they are unable to pay. Also, it does not tolerate discrimination between those who contribute and those who do not.
"Karapatan ng bawat batang Pilipino ang pumasok sa eskwela," Lapus stressed. "Hindi dapat hadlangan ang pagpasok sa eskwela kung wala silang maibigay na kontribusyon lalo pa't boluntaryo naman ito."
(DepEd)