DepEd: Try no uniform policy first before complaining

MANILA, Philippines - A day before the opening of classes, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus on Monday asked the public to try first the no-uniform policy earlier issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "Subukan natin ito (Let's try it first)," Lapus said in an interview with radio dzBB when told of the concerns on the security of students aired by some teachers and school authorities on the directive to allow students to go to classes even without a uniform. The radio report said teachers have expressed apprehension that outsiders might enter the school premises without them noticing it because there will no longer be distinction between students and outsiders. Lapus said the government is trying everything to increase the participation rate of school-aged children or the number of children going to school. "Lumabas sa mga pagsusuri na yung mga kadahilanan na mababa ang ating participation rate o hindi pumapasok sa eskwela ay collection of fees at uniporme. So susubukan natin na ito ngayong taon (Studies showed that among the reasons of low participation rate are the collection of fees and uniforms. So we will try implementing this policy this year)," Lapus said. He said the teachers should have no problem identifying their pupils as they would be issuing identification cards. "Yung mga nasa Grade 2 pataas e malamang yung dating uniporme ang gagamitin (Pupils on Grade 2 and up will probably use their old uniforms)," Lapus said. The DepEd chief said, for the meantime, they would seek the help of Philippine National Police for a better police visibility outside the school premises. "In the meantime, ID at kapulisan, walang tatalo sa visible patrolling sa labas (ng paaralan) para makapag-discourage ng kung anuman 'yung untoward na pinaplano (In the meantime, we would utilize IDs and police officers. Nothing beats visible patrolling outside the school premises to discourage untoward plans by some people)," Lapus said. Lapus said they will issue guidelines on the no-uniform policy once the experts and school principals meet. "Maybe titignan muna natin ang sitwasyon, karamihan naman may uniform (We would like see first the situation, many of the students have uniform" Lapus said. Earlier this month, President Arroyo ordered DepEd to allow incoming Grade 1 pupils, elementary and even high school students from poor families to attend school even without the proper uniform. Mrs Arroyo said she had learned that some students cannot enter Grade 1 or go to school because their parents could not afford to buy them the required uniforms. She said what is important is that the students get a decent education. The President said that if ever the proposed policy is implemented, like in the United States, the financial burdens of parents would be lightened as they would not have to struggle for money to afford school uniforms for their children. "The scrapping of uniform is part of fighting for education to help parents keep their children in school without even worrying about buying uniforms," President Arroyo said. - GMANews.TV