Parents hit school for P800 grad fee

CANDABA — Parents of graduating students at the Pasig National High School here on Wednesday lambasted school officials for collecting graduation fees amounting to P800 per student.
“Isipin na lang po ninyo kung mayroong 60 graduating students bawat section. Gaano kalaking pera ang involved? Halimbawa, walong section ang graduating natin, aabot sa may 480 ang kabuuang bilang ng mga graduates. Ang kabuuang koleksiyon sa graduation fees ay aabot sa P384,000,” Elizabeth Dela Cruz, a mother for one of the graduating students said.
This came amid the recent declaration by Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro that public schools must observe austerity and simplicity during graduation rites.
Luistro also directed public schools not to collect fees or any kind of contributions for graduation rites.
To further emphasize the call for the observance simple graduation rites (as contained in DepEd Order No. 8, series 2005), DepEd has issued DepEd Order No.4, series 2011, which emphasizes the department’s policy on the conduct and collection of fees for graduation rites.
“Mukha po yatang hindi alam ng principal at mga teachers dito sa Pasig ang ‘no collection policy’ ng DepEd pagdating sa graduation. Ok lang sana nung una, pero masyadong malaki ang P800 para sa aming mahihirap,” Dela Cruz added.
Meanwhile, another parents disclosed that officials from the Pasig National High School are also planning to hold a “graduation ball” with a corresponding fee amounting to at least P200.
“Kaya nga sa public namin pinag aral ang mga anak namin dahil mahihirap lang kami pero anong ginagawa?,” Felma Galang, another mother complaining about the unreasonable graduation fees, said.
In an interview with one of the third year students here, Sun.Star Pampanga learned that the same school also collects fees from incoming and returning students amounting to more than P500.
Aside from this, the school recently spearheaded a field trip, collecting P1,000 for the purpose.
It was also learned that several projects commonly given to private schools were also given to the students in Pasig National High School.
“These projects were obviously not for academic purposes but for the economic gain of the manufacturer, school, and teacher holding the subject,” another parent added.
Sun.Star Pampanga tried to reach the management of Pasig National High School to no avail. (Herbert P. Mapiles)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2012/03/15/parents-hit-school-p800-grad-fee-211325