Monday, July 30, 2007 DepEd 7 orders school head to answer charges
THE Department of Education (DepEd) 7 has ordered the principal of St. Francis de Assisi School in Lahug, Cebu City to answer the allegations that he changed the grades of students.
Gilbert Jatayna was charged with serious misconduct in office and serious irregularities in the performance of duties by lawyer Vicente Fernandez II and his son Joaquin Nicolo.
Fernandez said his son should have finished at the top of his class during his first year in high school.
His son got a grade of 87 for physical education, health and music instead of a 93, which scouting officers were entitled to get.
Promise
Jatayna promised to correct the errors, but when the card was finally re-issued, the principal’s decision was to declare Joaquin Nicolo and another student tied—both with a grade of 89.27.
The complainants said this was not possible as the other student was not a scouting officer and he also failed to perfect the last exam, which would have only entitled him to a grade of 87.
Fernandez and his son said Jatayna erred in awarding the top spot to the other student.
They said Jatayna deserves to be fired.
Final
The complainants said they filed the case “to shield children in the school from the practice of immorality, dishonestly and untruthfulness, and to protect them from physical harm and other evil consequences.”
Jatayna, for his part, denied the charges, saying he cannot alter the grades given by the teachers to their students.
“Under our policy and under the law, the teacher is the final judge and cannot be influenced by his superior,” he said.
Jatayna said he will submit his answer to DepEd today. (EOB)
