But verification from Tesda in Central Visayas, however, showed that Wilbert Almaden, who introduced himself as an art instructor, is not connected with the agency.
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 also said it has no policy of hiring or allowing an outsider to hold class inside the school, more so when the subject is being taught by the school’s faculty members.
Art class
Almaden, of Barangay Sabang in Danao City, held the “art class” for pupils at the Sabang Elementary School last Saturday afternoon.
The session was the first of a series of eight scheduled every Saturday.
Before the class began, Almaden, who is in his 50s, collected P75 as “art class fee” from the pupils or their parents, whom he told to write their names in a piece of paper.
More than a hundred students from Grade 1 to Grade 6 attended the art class that started at past 2 p.m.
Prohibit
DepEd Order 41 series 2012 prohibits teachers or any school personnel to collect fees from pupils in kindergarten to Grade 4 during the entire year.
Almaden did not issue an official receipt as he collected P9,000.
Almaden told the pupils to practice “basic sketches” by writing down vertical lines in a long-sized bond paper without using a ruler.
He also asked the pupils to practice “basic color variation in art” by asking the
pupils to color a bottle and a vase using crayons.
Almaden, in an interview, said Danao City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rosalie Pasaol allowed him to conduct the art class to “develop the students’ art skills.”
Principal
After getting Pasaol’s nod, Almaden said he approached Christine Paquibot, Sabang Elementary School principal, who allowed him to conduct the art class.
Almaden said Paquibot spread the information to her faculty members.
He said the P75 fee per student is intended to defray his and the school’s expenses.
Almaden said P25 goes to Paquibot while P50 will be for his “transportation expenses.”
Asked if he is a teacher by profession, Almaden replied, “Art lang. Livelihood training lang para sa art.”
He also said Paquibot approved the collection of fees. “Okay kaayo. Naa mi sharing ani (We have a sharing for this).”
He said he is a Fine Arts graduate but that he never taught in the academe.
He showed Sun.Star Cebu his Tesda 7 identification card stating his designation as “skills training workshop facilitator/art instructor.”
But his ID does not bear his signature and that of Tesda Director General Joel
Villanueva.
Not connected
Engr. Jing Jayme, Tesda 7 assessment and certification unit head, however, said Almaden is not connected with their office.
In case Tesda conducts workshops or livelihood training in schools, Jayme said they conduct it in the tertiary level, not in the elementary or secondary levels.
Dr. Pasaol, Danao City Division Superintendent, said her office gave Almaden the permission to conduct the class art last year.
Pasaol said Almaden recently visited her office and talked about his proposal to conduct the class.
But she said the latter did not return to her office to finalize everything.
Saturday classes
In an interview, Paquibot, the school principal, said she did not categorically authorize Almaden to hold art classes on Saturdays.
Paquibot said Almaden just verbally asked her permission to conduct art classes in the school.
After getting permission from Paquibot, Almaden went to the classrooms and talked to the teachers about his art class.
Pacquibot admitted she allowed Almaden to disseminate his proposal to every classroom.
After their meeting, Paquibot said Almaden did not return to her office.
“I did not know he conducted the art class,” Paquibot said.
Paquibot also distanced herself from Almaden’s class, saying it was not sanctioned by DepEd.
“I just trusted him because he also conducted art class in other schools last year,” she said.
The principal said Almaden did not inform her that he would start conducting the art class last Saturday.
She denied she was the one who disseminated the information to faculty members about Almaden’s art class.
Faculty meeting
“I did not call for a faculty meeting or send memo to disseminate information about the art class,” she said.
She said Almaden went to the classrooms and announced the class art.
“I did not expect that pupils would attend (the art class),” she said.
She also denied Almaden’s claims that she would get portion of the fees collected from the students.
“We did not talk about it,” he said.
Paquibot said she will meet Almaden to inquire about the issue.
She assured that fees collected by Almaden will be returned to the parents if the collection is found out to be illegal.
Meeting
In a separate interview, Dr. Carmelita Dulangon, DepEd 7 chief, said she will include the issue in their executive meeting tomorrow.
Art is already a subject being taught in school by teachers hired by DepEd, said Dulangon.
Should DepEd hire resource persons to conduct class or seminar, Dulangon said they would usually shoulder their expenses, such as meal and transportation stipends.
Dulangon also said these classes should be closely monitored by school officials.
