No contributions for celebration of Teacher’s Month – DepEd

Mandatory contributions from teachers and students are not allowed, especially if these will be used for any activity related to the celebrations of National Teachers’ Month (NTM), National Teachers’ Day (NTD) and World Teachers’ Day (WTD).

Amid allegations that some schools are collecting various amounts of money from its teachers to be used for the celebration of the NTD, Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said that the department prohibits “collection from our teachers.”

In a letter dated Sept. 25, 2017, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio called the attention of Education Secretary Leonor Briones regarding “several complaints” from teachers on alleged collection of fees.

“Our office received several complaints regarding the collections from and contributions of teachers to cover the expenses of activities of NTD and WTD,” Tinio said.

Tinio noted that “the complaints report of compulsory amounts ranging from 1100 to as high as 11,800 are for various activities such as bingo games, Zumba, and raffles usually exacted from them without their consultation or approval.”

Tinio urged DepEd to look into the matter noting that these collections are “additional financial burdens and as diminution of the already meager salaries of our teachers.”

Further, he raised his own observation – as the principal author of republic Act 10743 or the National Teachers’ Day Law – that allowing “this practice continue violates the very essence of our teachers welfare and to their importance to our society.”

Citing Section 1 of Republic Act 4206, as amended by Republic Act 5546, Tinio reminded that: “The sale of tickets and/or the collection of contributions in any form whatsoever, by any person for any project or purpose, whether voluntary or otherwise, from school children, students and teachers of public schools, colleges and universities is hereby prohibited: Provided, however, That this prohibition shall not cover membership fees of school children and students in the Red Cross, the girl scouts of the Philippines and the boy scouts of the Philippines: Provided, finally, That this prohibition shall not cover the contributions of parents and other donors for the support of barrio high schools.”

A total 15.3 million has been set aside for this year’s celebration.

The NTM – which started on September 5 – will culminate on October 5 which is also declared as National Teachers’ Day by DepEd and World Teachers’ Day by the UNESCO.