Friday, November 24, 2006 Parents score Sped-Isec principal for 'violations' By Marie Katherine Villalon
SOME concerned parents of the students of Sped-Integrated School for Exceptional Children (Sped-Isec) scored the school principal on what they consider as violations of Republic Act (RA) 6713 otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."
In an unsigned letter submitted to and received by the Civil Service Commission last Nov. 21, 2006 and a copy furnished Sun.Star Iloilo, the concerned parents aired four issues -- first, the failure of Elizabeth Orquiola, principal to consult the Parent Teachers Association on matters pertaining to the students' welfare; second, for "maintaining a substantial interest in another school"; third, for allowing Sped-Isec teachers to conduct tutoring services for a fee to students of the same school; and fourth, for failing to designate an officer-in-charge in her absence.
The parents stated that Orquiola "failed to provide consultations or at least encourage suggestions or an exchange of opinions before putting up an Automated Tubig Machine (ATM), a private business interest, within the school premises."
"The ATM is strategically situated at the entrance of the school, thereby hampering orderly ingress and egress of students."
The parents expressed concern that should any incident requiring the students' immediate exit occur, the ATM may be standing in the way.
Another issue that the parents raised was the violation of "conflict of interest" clause of RA 6713 because Orquiola, according to the records of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is one of the incorporators of Headstart-Oton, a private pre-school. "This thereby opposes and affects her faithful performance of her official duty as principal of Sped-Isec," the statement reads.
The SEC papers show that the address of Headstarters Inc. is at Florvel Homes, Buray, Oton, the same subdivision where Orquiola lives.
The parents stressed that Sped-Isec maintains its own Headstart, which requires parents to pay the necessary tuition fee, owing emphasis to the fact that Sped-Isec, being a public school, does not require payment of tuition fees. "This is apart from the fact that it occupies its own classroom in the premises of Sped-Isec, under the representation that is part of the said school, using teachers from the same school and regularly taking part in its activities."
The parents felt that "others deserving of the services of a public school, are being divested of their rights of an extra classroom or an extra air-conditioning unit. And since tuition fees are being paid by the parents for their Headstart children in Sped Isec, are we at liberty to state that the Sped-Isec teachers for Headstart are given extra pay for their teaching?"
The parents also questioned where the collections go.
The third issue is "for allowing Sped-Isec teachers to conduct tutoring services for a fee for other Sped-Isec students.
The parents urged Orquiola to refrain from the practice, worried that some Sped-Isec teachers may be giving out leakages during their tutorials.
The fourth issue raised was the failure of Orquiola to designate an officer-in-charge in her absence. "Most often, parents would be dismissed with the meager excuse of her being on official business and that no one is likely available in her stead to attend meetings or clarify issues. As a result, PTA meetings are usually rendered futile exercises or issues are kept at a standstill before their resolution."
The parents also scored Orquiola for "waging a personal crusade against those who criticize her" and for her failure to show records of funds of the school.
In a radio interview Thursday, Orquiola clarified that the ATM is owned by a businessman. When staff of Aksyon Radyo checked, they found out that it's owned by Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena.
Orquiola said the business has a sub-meter and that the owners pay their electricity direct to the City Government. She added that the area where the ATM is located is only temporary. "We will transfer it after the construction of the canteen is finished. We will widen the area," she said.
It was learned from Orquiola that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) exists between the school and the company. "They give a monthly donation of P1,500. If ever they have a collection, the one handling this is the teacher who's taking care of the canteen. The proceeds of this go to the school's facilities. Everything is also liquidated; we have records and receipts," she said.
Orquiola has yet to air her side on the other issues raised against her.
