At least 30 students of a private primary school in Bacolod City are at risk of having to retake their studies after the school was found to be operating without a permit.

This may mean that the children enrolled in the school, the Leshem Christian School, may not be able to proceed to grade school and may have to enroll again in Kinder 2.

“Ang Leshem has no permit to operate. For DepEd, hindi talaga dapat mag-operate kasi wala siyang permit to operate,” said Dennis Develos, Officer-in-charge of DepEd Division of Bacolod.

According to the 1992 Revised Manual of Regulations for private schools and Republic Act No. 11984, all schools, including those offering K to 12 and higher education institutions, must have a permit from the government.

The school has operated in Barangay Mansilingan, Cabug, and Vista Alegre.

It was found that the school did not have a permit when the parents could not enrol their children for grade school.

CHILDREN’S FUTURE

DepEd said there is still a chance that the children can proceed with the grade level that corresponds to their age but they will need to take a competency exam.

Develos said they will request the DepEd central office to administer the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT).

“I-consolidate natin sila and we will request sa central office to conduct ng PEPT, Philippine Educational Placement Test, upang ma-determine natin, and hopefully mapasa nila. I-move natin sila agad right after the result, upang ma-balanse, ma-parallel ang kanilang placement - grade level, according to their age,” Develos said.

The founder of Leshem, Pastor Felix Soledad, refused to face the camera but assured that the school is taking steps to help the children.

SENTIMENTS

The children’s families expressed disappointment over what happened.

“Pina-private school ko siya kasi para two or three (students) lang sila… para ma-manage ang kanyang behavior. Nagulat ako na walang permit, so third time na siyang babalik. Hindi ko matanggap kasi parang pinaasa, babalik talaga kami sa Kinder 2,” said Maria Lyn, a mother.

She said her husband works tirelessly at their food cart business at the Burgos Public Market just to send their child to Leshem.

Another mother, Catherine Solano, shared Maria Lyn’s sentiments.

“Hindi namin alam na ang eskwelahan pala walang permit. Masakit sa amin na mga nanay na ininform kami na wala daw permit ang kanyang school,” she said.

Lawyer Benedick Ledesma said the parents have the option to file a case against the school if they feel aggrieved.

“If ang parents aggrieved sa nangyari, pwede silang mag-file ng civil case for damages especially kung may dapat i-refund sa kanila, or magsampa rin sila ng criminal case kung merong ebidensya ng panlilinlang na maaaring ma-consider as Estafa,” Ledesma said.