DepEd sets up command center for school opening

Inquiries about the Form 137 or transcript of records as a requirement for enrollment were among the common issues brought to the Department of Education’s “Oplan Balik Eskwela” command center, which was set up for the opening of classes.

Although as a general rule public schools are not allowed to reject an enrollee, a copy of the student's Form 137 is a requirement upon enrolment, the DepEd said.

Those who encountered this problem are mostly transferees.

Annie Febrero, the first person to enter the command center on Monday morning, said her child, an incoming Grade 9 student, is being refused enrolment by a high school in Binangonan, Rizal, because they could not secure the child's Form 137.

According to Febrero, she transferred her child from a private school to a public school three years ago. She said during the first year, her promisory note was enough to have her child enrolled.

Last year, she had to go to the command center for her child to be enrolled. It was her second time to seek help regarding the enrolment of her kid since she has yet to pay the P70,000 balance on the tuition at the private school.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo explained that they will call the public school to have Febrero’s child enrolled.

However, Febrero will be encountering problems once her child graduates because she will need her kid's records, which means she has to settle her debt.

The command center will remain open until the end of the first week of classes. For any questions or complaints regarding this school year, you may call DepEd at 6361663, text to 0919-4560027 or email at action@deped.com.ph.

During the operation of the command center earlier, a protest rally was held in front of the DepEd office, spearheaded by Alliance of Concerned Teachers with and joined by members of Save Our School Network.

They condemned DepEd's alleged move ordering closure of a school in Davao that was opened by indigenous people.

Included in the order was to replace the school with a public school where military personnel would be “para-teachers.”

Mateo said the school has not been ordered closed yet but is just recommended to be closed for the moment. —KBK, GMA News