Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya—Provincial Board Member Elma Pinao-an-Lejao has asked, through a resolution she filed, that Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) in public elementary and secondary schools in the province submit their Annual Financial Statements (AFS) before they can be recognized and exact voluntary contributions and fees among parents.
She said parents of schoolchildren, especially those belonging to the poor sector, have been complaining on the varying required contributions and fees exacted among students.
In her privileged speech, Lejao said she was bothered why documents regarding request of parents for financial assistance have flooded her office and other board members, seeking similar fund assistance to help them pay the varying school contributions and fees.
“It is observed that the amount of PTA fees collected in secondary schools in our province are not the same. Some collect P100, some for P400and some for even bigger amounts,” she said.
Lejao cited several Department of Education Department Orders on the collection of school fees that require PTAs to submit annual financial statements to concerned authorities and publish these in conspicuous places.
These documents should also be presented to the general assembly during the next school year before PTAs can collect more contributions and fees, she added.
“This resolution will further shed light on the true realities of voluntary contributions and fees which will result to another legislative action to address this problem among parents,” she said.