Teacher bars pupil from exam, probed

CEBU, Philippines — Officials from the Department of Education in Cebu are urging parents to file a report before the division office those teachers who have committed misconduct.

The agency made the remarks after a teacher at Aloguinsan Central Elementary School did not allegedly allow a pupil to take an examination for failing to pay P50 intended for the painting of plant boxes.

According to dyLA radio report, the teacher defended that the obligation was agreed upon with the parents. In fact, the parents even allegedly agreed to a deadline.

The teacher also allegedly required pupils to pay P100 for the cleaning of the comfort room every school year, and P15 every month to cover expenses in cleaning and maintaining the classroom.

Amaryllis Villarmia, spokesperson of DepEd Central Visayas, said there is no prohibition for the collection of fees as long as the same were previously agreed upon by the parents and teachers.

However, Villarmia said it is wrong for the teacher to force pupils and parents to pay.

“Pero kung mopugos sila pagpabayad sa estudyante nga dili ka-afford ang ginikanan, then kana, naa na diha ang sayop. Dili ta dapat mopugos (When they force students whose parents cannot afford to pay, then that’s where it becomes wrong. We should not force them),” she said.

Villarmia clarified that under an ideal setup in public schools, everything should be free. But she reiterated that contributions and payment of fees may be imposed as decided upon by stakeholders.

Villarmia said the division office in which the school belongs is tasked to investigate the incident.

In the same radio report, it was indicated that the school principal had already summoned the teacher and the parents of the child to her office.

During the talk, the teacher allegedly initially denied the allegations and said that it was the mother who pulled the child out of the classroom, thus the latter was unable to take the test.

Later, the teacher said it was not true, and then asked forgiveness.

Villarmia said the penalty a teacher may face for misconduct will depend on the gravity of the offense.

For simple misconduct, a teacher may face suspension. However, for grave misconduct, he or she may face dismissal from the service, especially when results of the investigation conducted by the division office warrants the same.  JMD (FREEMAN)