Monday, September 10, 2007 Foreign schools closely watched for violations
FOREIGN schools operating in the city have now been put under close watch due to violation of city rules.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said he ordered the closure of a number of Korean tutorial schools after finding out that these are not covered by proper permits.
He said investigations revealed that these centers’ permits were originally for boarding houses.
He added that while the city welcomes foreigners who make Baguio as their second home, it will not tolerate any act that violates the city’s ordinances.
Over at the City Council, the councilors agreed to invite representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to its next session to shed light on the operation of foreign schools in the city.
Councilor Antonio Tabora Jr., who broached the matter in a resolution, noted the need for such inquiry in view of the mushrooming of foreign schools in the city particularly those run by South Koreans.
“To protect the general welfare of the residents of the city, there is a need to determine whether or not these foreign schools are operating in accordance with the criteria set by the DepEd and the CHEd, or are pursuing the state policies, principles and other mandates under the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines,” Tabora stressed.
The inquiry has been set for Monday session.(Aileen Refuerzo)
