Is Basic Education Really Free?
Basic education refers to studies done in Kindergarten up to Grade X or fourth year high school. In the public schools, pupils studying in the elementary and high schools are absolutely free of whatever charges, the Department of Education (DepEd) always announces this matter at the time of enrollment. DepEd also answers "basic education" is free whenever and wherever the question of school fees is asked. This free elementary and secondary education is mandated by the basic education act.
However, is basic education in the Philippines actually free? Yes and No. No, because just during the recent enrollment for the School Year 2006-2007, complaints were received and aired over the airlanes against public school staff who refused to enroll pupils and students who cannot pay the admission fee.
This admission fee consist of authorized voluntary contributions, such as, for the Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Red Cross, Anti–TB, Sustaining Membership (for what association?), school paper among others. There are also the security guard fee, electricity and donation. A child is asked to pay partially before he is enrolled in a class.
Still NO because, public schools has inadequate facilities for learning thereby producing functional illiterates (9.2 million). There are congested classrooms and inadequate textbooks. Teachers ask students to buy books or xerox it in the pretension of a project. In some public schools, graduates are of low quality because of inferior teaching facilities.
In the private schools, parents and students pay for the quality of education that school provides. In cases where tuition fees and other charges are not equal for what is paid for, parents can transfer their children to other schools of their choice. But how many percent of the Filipino families can afford private basic education?
For one thing, there are some reports where schools, public or private, compel the pupils and students to pay for school paper when no paper was ever published. Boy Scout or Girl Scout contribution when there is neither boy scout nor girl scout in school.
Moreover, the number of school days in a school year is diminished by the following activities: 1. barangay and town fiestas, 2. athletic meets, 3. official public holidays, 4. declared public holidays, 5. typhoons, 6. teachers’ meeting and official travels, and 7. other causes like sick leave.
Actually, there is no free basic education and DepEd must accept this. In order to erase the false belief of the parents of free basic education, DepEd must inform the people what it can provide like books, classroom and teachers. Tell the parents to provide other needs in the teaching learning process. This will enable the community to recognize and thank who provides what.
Observations were given that some schools do not render report regarding the school contributions. Are the contributions just enough? Is there any surplus for the incoming school year? If inadequate, who paid for the shortage?
Those responsible personnel for the collections of contributions of parents and other benefactors must religiously account for all the collections. At the end of the school year, a brief but comprehensive report must be given where did the contributions go. This matter of accounting will encourage more donations, foster trust and confidence, and proper acknowledgement and recognition can be given to all concerned. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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