Make Graduations a Simple Celebration

With the upcoming school graduations, the Department of Education (DepEd) reminds public school heads, teachers and other education stakeholders to keep the graduation rites a simple celebration.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus directed public schools not to collect any graduation fees or any kind of contribution for graduation rites. “We need to focus on ensuring quality education for all," he said.

In line with the government’s austerity program, DepEd issued DepEd Order No.15, s. 2009, which contained the department’s policy on conduct and collection of fees for the graduation rites.

Although PTA/PTCAs may solicit voluntary contributions from their members for graduation ceremonies, teachers and school officials should not be involved in the collection of these contributions.

Schools should not require extravagant special attire or extraordinary venue for the ceremonies, while contributions for the annual yearbook should only be on a voluntary basis.

The order also stated that "graduation rites should be conducted solemnly befitting the graduating students and their parents.”

The celebration should not in any way be used as a venue for political forum. Lapus said school administrators and parents are not barred from inviting their local government officials.

“Many LGUs are active partners of the Department. Their contributions included assistance in school buildings, furniture, books, additional teacher items, training and operating expenses,” explained Lapus.

Although the last day of classes is set on March 31, schools can schedule their graduation as early as last week of March. This year’s graduation theme is “My Education: My Contribution to the Future (Edukasyon ko, Handog ko sa Kinabukasan).”

Lapus noted, ”Graduation is that milestone of an accomplishment. And such success demands our students to accept more responsibilities.”

“The true value of your education is in your knowing that you now have a bigger role to play in society and in our quest for a better nation for all Filipinos,” he stressed.

23 February 2009 - DepEd Calls on Schools to Make Graduations A Simple Celebration

Source: Department of Education

Post Retirement Blues

There were many stories about our beloved school teachers being harassed or verbally abused by GSIS personnel.

In 2002, I confronted a desk personnel at Legazpi branch for being rude when I asked her to explain over an issue that I don't understand. What she did was, she gave me a copy of R. A. 660 and asked me to read it. Whew... I left instead and sent an email to their head office in Manila and immediately their Vice President clarified the matter to me.

When I speak to her again, she was apologetic, restless and perspiring profusely inside the air conditioned room. Her superior came over and asked for the documents. And within a week time my transaction was over.

Rural Public School Teachers Score GSIS "Harassment"

Business Mirror
Written by Manly Ugalde / Correspondent
Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:51

VIRAC, Catanduanes—Public- school teachers here assailed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for alleged cheating, harassment and negligence over their alleged unfounded accountabilities.

GSIS members who have recently retired or are in the process of retiring complained that the state pension fund has been warning them to settle their alleged unpaid salary loans that they have paid in full.

Others said they were not paid the full amount of their matured policies allegedly because they have still unpaid loans that they also did not apply for.

Oscar Uchi, a newly retired high- school teacher at the Tambogñon National High School in the coastal town of Viga, said the GSIS claimed that he has not paid his salary loan of P84,200 showed in the GSIS database when his pay slips, as well as records of the Department of Education, show that his salary deductions had been remitted to the GSIS.

Uchi explained that the GSIS does not also approve succeeding salary loan applications unless the old loan has been settled.

Another teacher of the same school, Gregorio Villaray, lamented that he is retiring by January next year but the GSIS is forcing him to pay his salary loan of P74,500, which his records showed has been paid in full.

Maria Salome Tosic and Maria Filipina Liveta, also teachers of the said school, claimed they had not obtained loans from the GSIS but when their policies matured, the pension fund refused to pay them alleging that the proceeds due their policies were made to cover for their loans.

Avelino Tumala, also a teacher, said his P60,000 GSIS insurance policy has matured but he was informed by the GSIS that its proceeds were used to pay his unsettled loans.

“I don’t have a single unpaid loan,” Tumala said.

The teachers said despite the problems confronted by public school teachers with the pension fund before are nothing compared to their problems now. If at all, there were minor problems before, the teachers added.

Salvador Manlangit, a retired agriculture technician at the Gigmoto local government, said he was required by the GSIS to fill out forms for his e-card at the GSIS extension office in the capital town of Virac in June and was assured that he would receive the e-card in 15 days.

Until now, Manlangit said he has not received the e-card which is the instrument for the withdrawal of his monthly pension. “Kelan darating iyong pension ko? Kung patay na ako?” Manlangit lamented.

GSIS members here also complained that even the educational policies for their children could not be collected when their children reach college. They said some beneficiary-students have already graduated and the GSIS policies remain uncollected.

Uchi said his salary loan of P84,200 obtained in 2003 was settled fully in 2006. He said, however, that his insurance policy of P75,000, which matured this year was found to have been wiped out when its proceeds were used by the GSIS to pay his already long full-paid loan.

The teachers appealed to the government and the GSIS to save teachers from this kind of mess, saying poor as they are, and yet they are retiring poor only to become victims of injustices from the state-owned GSIS. This is double jeopardy, the teachers said, adding that their counterparts in the private sector never encountered similar injustices from the Social Security System.

RELATED LINKS:

• 2008 Wishlist - Suggestions to Catanduanes local executives for rural development initiatives.
• We Also Want Change - Change is the law of life and those who only look in the past or present are certain to miss the future.
• Where Are You From? - Our province is undergoing a difficult period but eventually we will be someday be proud of Catanduanes in its true self and not as a copycat.