Colegio de San Lorenzo officials to face legal issues for ‘unusual’ closure — QC legal dep't

The officials of the Colegio de San Lorenzo (CDSL) will face legal issues after closing down the institution during its supposed first day of classes, the Quezon City legal department said Wednesday.

Quezon City legal department head Atty. Orlando Casimiro noted that 717 students from nursery to Grade 12, and 652 college students were affected after CDSL announced its permanent closure on August 15, citing financial reasons and low enrollment turnout over the past years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the number of college students, he said 172 are supposed to graduate this school year.

“Aside from being unfair, that’s very unusual that you’re scheduled to hold your first day of classes and then you announce that the school is closing. Definitely, there's something we need to find out,” Casimiro told CNN Philippines.

“Definitely, there will be legal issues to be faced by the school officials, and along those who are supposed to be held liable,” he added.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Colegio reiterated that the closure is due to "the financial instability and lack of financial viability brought about by the ongoing pandemic and exacerbated by consistent low enrollment turnout over the past years."

It added that after deliberating the possibility of continuing classes, even online, for graduating students, "we regret to inform you...such option is not feasible given the circumstances of the school."

The college added that it is "in close coordination" with other schools over accommodating the CDSL students, and with the local government over the future of its employees.

Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said they will investigate what caused CDSL to make such an abrupt announcement.

He also said they will be studying what sanctions the agency could impose against CDSL, but these may now be moot as the institution has already shut down.

“Sanctions that we usually impose on schools would be suspension of their license, recognition, and all that which is really not going to be as effective now since seeing that the school has closed,” he explained.

Possible 'element of deceit'

At the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera told the chamber's Committee on Higher and Technical Education that under existing rules, higher educational institutions like CDSL should inform CHED of its closure or even a suspension of a program offering 60 days ahead of its implementation.

"Based on the CHED's requirement for closure or suspension of programs issued just last year, there are potential violations. I have instructed our Executive Director of [the National Capital Region] to sit down with the school and look into it immediately for possible violations," he said.

"Since they accepted the tuition then arbitrarily decided that they will not open, there is a certain element of, maybe, deceit. Because as far as CHED is concerned, once you accept tuition payments, there is already a contractual agreement between you and the student, that you will provide education in exchange of fees paid," de Vera added.

De Vera said CDSL only informed CHED that it was closing just last week.

"I think this is the first time that a school arbitrarily closed without informing the CHED ahead of time. Other schools that closed before have put an advance notice and sat down with CHED for proper procedure for closure to be observed," de Vera said.

"This [abrupt closure of CDSL] is rather alarming."

GMA News Online has reached out to Colegio de San Lorenzo for comment.

Schools to take in students

Poa also reiterated that a private school in QC is offering to accept displaced Grades 11 and 12 from CDSL, offer them the same tuition rate, and defer their payment of tuition until CDSL has given them the full refund.

He said they are looking for more schools that could absorb students from other grade levels.

In its statement on Wednesday, the CDSL listed several schools that it is in "close coordination" with.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the Quezon City University is also willing to accept the displaced students, while teachers and non-teaching personnel will be endorsed to the city’s Public Employment Service Office for possible financial assistance or potential employment.

“Yes, we will facilitate na ‘yung mag-aaral makapag-aral sa iba’t ibang paaralan dito sa lungsod [so the students can study in different schools in the city] and we are coordinating with these different schools already,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

In an interview with Balitanghali, Belmonte said at least four schools expressed readiness to accept CDSL students.

"Four schools that have gotten in touch with the Quezon City government pagkatapos ko manawagan ng tulong sa mga paaralan... were Trinity College, UST Angelicum, APEC Schools V. Luna, and Thames International School," she said.

In a Facebook post, University of Santo Tomas Angelicum College said it is opening its doors to the displaced students of CDSL.

It also offered assistance including:

• scholarship through matched tuition fees as CDSL’s for the current school year
• low down payment of 5,000 and deferred balance until refund from CDSL is received
• one day admission process
• seamless transfer of records
• assistance to obtain GASTPE subsidy

Thames International said it is "extending our assistance for those who are in SHS and College with partial scholarships and financial assistance for a seamless transfer."

The Philippine Women's University - Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (PWU-JASMS) said it will also "open our doors to the families of the students who need a second home."

STI College Muñoz-EDSA said it is also willing to help the CDSL students.

"We offer easy transfer program to all interested Senior High School and College students of Colegio De San Lorenzo. To our ongoing students, you may help your friends and avail our REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM," it said.

—AOL, GMA News