Policy and purpose: free elementary education
- The order addresses complaints that school officials and teachers collect contributions from public elementary students during enrollment.
- The order declares that collecting such contributions during enrollment violates the concept of free elementary education.
- The order directs that enrollment must not require any contributions from public elementary students.
Scope: who is covered and when
- The prohibition applies to public elementary students during the enrolment period.
- The order directs that no contributions whatsoever be collected from public elementary students during the enrolment period.
- The order constrains fundraising and collections to the campaign period for specifically authorized contributions.
Absolute ban during enrollment period
- No school may collect any contributions whatsoever from public elementary students during the enrolment period.
- The order treats contributions even if voluntary but authorized by law and DECS issuance as prohibited during enrolment.
- Any collection activity at the enrolment period by school officials or teachers constitutes a violation of the free elementary education concept.
Authorized contributions: voluntary and timed
Authorized contributions must be solicited on a voluntary basis and not during the period of enrolment.
Solicitation must occur only during their respective campaign period under the following schedule and amounts:
Boy Scouts of the Philippines membership fee
- Campaign period: June-September
- Amount: P15.00 each member
Girl Scouts of the Philippines membership fee
- Campaign period: January-December
- Amount: P15.00 each member
Philippine National Red Cross
- Campaign period: January-December
- Amount: P0.50/student or P20.00/class of 40
Anti-TB Educational and Fund Campaign
- Campaign period: January-December
- Amount: P1.00/student
PTA/PTCA membership fees and collection timing
- The order fixes the PTA/PTCA membership fee at not more than twenty pesos (P20.00) per parent-member.
- PTA/PTCA membership fee collection must occur not earlier than three (3) months after the enrolment period.
- All other contributions collected under the PTA/PTCA framework must follow the same not earlier than three (3) months after enrolment timing rule.
Implementation, monitoring, and administrative liability
- Regional directors, schools superintendents, school principals, and teachers must strictly implement the order.
- Regional directors and schools superintendents must conduct monitoring of all schools in their areas to check compliance.
- Any violation of the order must be dealt with administratively.
Related DECS issuances to be followed
- DECS Order No. 5, s. 1992 (a Policy on Solicitation of Contributions) must be strictly followed.
- DECS Order No. 123, s. 1990 (a Prohibiting Contributions to Athletic Meets and Other Similar Activities) must be strictly followed.
- DECS Memorandum No. 178, s. 1988 (a Primer on Free Public Elementary Education) must be strictly followed.