DepEd widens system network through PTAs

The Department of Education has mobilized its Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs (CSCA) to ensure transparency and accountability in the operation of Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) throughout the country.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus also directed the CSCA, headed by Executive Director Joey Pelaez, to make PTA activities more responsive to the needs of the students and school.

PTAs helped provide elementary and secondary schools a forum for issues related to school programs.

Lapus stressed the importance of PTAs as school partners and as major players in youth education. “We enjoin parents and the whole community to take proactive stand as stakeholders in their children’s education,” he said.

Among the key issues currently being addressed by PTA is the DepEd’s “no collection” policy that Lapus himself enunciated in a circular. The circular states: “No collection of PTA contributions shall be done during the enrolment period. Likewise, no teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities.”

PTAs may collect voluntary financial contributions from members and outside sources to enable it to fund and sustain its operation and programs designed to benefit the students and the school.

The DepEd earlier reiterated that non-payment of the contributions by the parent-member would not be a basis for non-admission or non-issuance of clearance to the child by the school concerned.

The contributions shall be collected by the PTA Treasurer on a per parent-member basis regardless of the number of their children in school.

Pelaez welcomed the move to mobilized the CSCA. “The move will ensure accountability and greater transparency in the PTA, particularly in issuing financial statements, which we plan to be made accessible to the members of school and community,” Pelaez said.

Membership in the PTA is limited to parents, or in their absence the guardian, of duly enrolled students, and the teachers in a given school.

Pelaez pointed out that PTAs were prohibited from interfering in the academic and administrative management and operations of school, while PTA officers and Board of Directors cannot collect salaries and honoraria. PTA officials cannot call upon students and teachers for purposes of investigation or disciplinary action.

A Division PTA Affairs Committee chaired by the Schools Division Superintendent will also be created to monitor activities of PTAs and compliance with reports and requirements.

Lapus directed CSCA to conduct information dissemination and monitor compliance of divisions and schools with new guidelines in the organization, activities, and policies of PTAs stated in DepEd Order No 54, series of 2009. –Jason Faustino,Daily Tribune