Education bureau warns schools sans permit

THE Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao Region warned private schools operating without permit from the government.

Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson for DepEd-Davao, said they continuously monitor private schools without permit to operate not only in the city, but in the whole region as well.

He said once proven, they would order the school to stop its operation. If the school would still continue to operate, a violation of the Batas Pambansa 232 (Education Act of 1982) will be filed against these schools.

He said it is “unfair” to blame their office on these schools which continue to accept students even without permit to operate.

“In the first place, aware sila nga dapat naa gyud government authority (they are aware that they should have government authority). They are informed. They have knowledge on this,” Atillo said.

He said the continuous operation without permit is a violation on the regulation for private schools.

He said this could also lose the trust and confidence of the parents of the students.

“Ang epekto ani (The effect of this) is already affecting everybody,” he said.

He said they will not stop monitoring and investigating on these schools as it affects the students most.

Alma Cifra, DepEd Davao City private schools supervisor, earlier said there are a total of four schools in the city that are operating without permits.

She said one of the unaccredited schools is the Good Shepherd School in Toril.

She refused, however, to name the three others, but said one is in District 1, another in District 3 while the other is in District 2.

A copy of the master list of private schools of the Deped’s Basic Education Information System, obtained by Sun.Star Davao, showed that there are 215 registered schools for the school year 2011-2012.

For further queries and complaints about the schools of their children, she said, parents can contact her through their office number 227-4726. (Arianne Caryl N. Casas)