3,000 schools in PHL have no DepEd permit—report

Some 3,000 schools in the Philippines teach children without the necessary permits and accreditation from the Department of Education (DepEd), something that may require their students to go back to kindergarten.

 

A GMA Davao report that aired on Saksi Thursday said that out of the 10,797 schools in the country, 3,000 or about 25 percent have no permit, recognition, or accreditation from the government as of school year 2011 to 2012.

The report said only 25 such schools, which were all in Metro Manila, have been closed down.

 

Option for students

 

Jenelito Atillo, regional public information officer for DepEd XI-Davao City, an option to keep the students from going back to preschool was to have them take the Philippine Validating Exam.

 

Through the test, Atillo said the DepEd would see if the questioned schools were following the curriculum.

 

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), however, was not in favor of the suggestion.

 

"Para i-require pa 'yung bata na mag-test... buong year nag-effort na siya para makapasa du'n sa mga iligal na schools, 'wag naman," ACT secretary-general France Castro told GMA News.

 

 

"Colorum" schools have sprouted in the Davao region, like the International Bible Baptist School (IBBS) in Ulas, Davao City.

 

Mothers of students interviewed by GMA Davao said they were heartbroken that their children's work and accomplishments would just go to waste.

 

Levie—whose daughter, Xyvel Rose, has been a consistent honor student in IBBS—decided to verify with the DepEd office in Davao City after a neighbor told her that the school wasn't registered. 

 

DepEd officials confirmed the information and said Xyvel Rose may end up back in kindergarten since the school operated without a permit.

 

"Ayaw na raw niyang mag-kinder one kasi Grade Two na raw dapat siya," a tearful Levie told GMA Davao. "Pagod na raw siya."

 

Facing the same problem is Maricel Masangay, mother to Grade Five student Dexter and incoming first grader Joshua.

 

"Doon ako lubos na nasaktan," she told GMA Davao. "Pagdating ko ru'n sa public school, [sinabi nila na] wala palang DepEd permit 'yung school ng anak ko."

 

Pastor Agustin Abella of the IBBS came to his school's defense, saying that a lack of permit from the DepEd does not mean they cannot carry out their responsibility to educate their students.

 

"It does not mean that hindi naku-qualify 'yung facilities namin, that we cannot teach the children," he said. "Ni-recognize 'yung kariton, ito pa kaya. Maliliit lang 'yan (private schools without permit), but talagang they are doing their best."

 

Abella was referring to "Kariton Klasrum", a joint initiative of DepEd and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for street children last year, which stemmed from the pushcart classroom idea of 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida. 

 

'Operating out of sight'
 

For its operations to be legitimate, a private school is required to get a permit (issued on a school year basis per year level or course) or recognition (for an indefinite period provided that requirements are met) from the government, or undergo accreditation, a process which will certify "the quality or standards of a private school."

 

The law also provides that it is the government's obligation to "exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions."

 

While it is aware of "colorum" schools, Atillo said it was difficult for them to track these schools down.

 

"They are operating out of sight," Atillo said. “Marami sa kanila we just come to know if there is already an information coming from our people," he added.

 

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo added that the task should not just be the department's task alone.

 

"Hindi kailangang iasa lahat sa ating ahensiya," Mateo said. 

 

"Kailangang pagtulung-tulungan natin 'yan,” he added.

 

Castro disagreed with DepEd, saying it was not right for them to say they did not have enough power to track these schools.

 

"Kung hindi nila kaya ito, sila na mismo ang magsabi na hindi nila kayang ipatupad ang kanilang mandate," she said.

 

Data from the DepEd shows that as of school year 2012-2013, 15,830 out of more than 62,000 elementary and secondary schools in the country private institutions. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/NB, GMA News