DAVAO CITY – The Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd-11) has denied the application of the Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao, Inc. (CTCSM) in the Davao de Oro town of Maco.
In a statement on Monday, DepEd-11 said CTCSM’s application for recognition of its Elementary (Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 6) and Junior High School (Grades 7-10) and the renewal of its Senior High School programs for school year 2020-2021 was denied “due to “incomplete submissions of documentary requirements and noted deficiencies in the implementation of the K to 12 Curriculum.”
DepEd-11 said it was Davao De Oro Schools Division Superintendent Eufemia T. Gamutin who asked the agency’s Quality Assurance Division (QAD) to deny CTCSM’s application.
QAD is tasked to look into all the applications for government authority from private educational institutions for the determination of the issuance or the non-issuance of permits.
DepEd-11 also said all affected learners should be transferred to a nearby public or private school with government permit in order that their promotion to the next grade level will not be adversely impacted.
“It is also requested that all student records shall be turned over to DepEd, Davao De Oro for proper custody,” it added.
Meanwhile, DepEd-11 said it found out that two teachers of CTCSM were given teaching assignments even if they are not professional teachers, while two teachers with Licensure Examination Teachers (LET) eligibility has no proof presented or photocopies of their licenses.
It cited that Section 70 of the 2011 Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education mandates that “school teaching personnel in pre-school, elementary and secondary level of basic education in all private schools shall possess appropriate educational qualifications and must pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers.”
Worse, four of seven volunteer teachers were found to be high school graduates, two only reached college level, and one has a license in automotive servicing.
DepEd also found out that a kindergarten teacher in the said school was given a teaching task without 18 units of Early Childhood Education (ECE).
Aside from other regulatory deficiencies, DepEd-11 said CTCSM’s premises also failed to pass basic safety requirements, as it did not have the required Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) applicable for the current school year.
It said CTCSM was also operating as a “dorm school” but has violated several local sanitation laws and other related DepEd policies. -PNA
