Elementary school teacher in Medellin in hot water
Hitting students and collecting money among the complaints
A COMPLAINT was lodged by parents of students at the Curva Elementary School in Medellin, Cebu against a teacher for allegedly not holding classes, collecting illegal school funds and borrowing money from his students.
A petition for the transfer of Grade 5 adviser Jeremias Pino was signed by more than 100 parents and submitted to Dr. Arden Monisit, Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province Division superintendent, yesterday.
Members of the school’s Parents-Teachers Conference Association (PTCA) said that in March 2010, Pino collected money from parents to fund the school’s closing activities and he failed to remit the amount.
The parents also said his students no longer want to attend his class because Pino allegedly does not teach them any lessons. He allegedly lets them sleep in class and he also allegedly only shows up three times a week, which he allegedly admitted to them.
PARENTS of some students at the Curva Elementary School in Medellin, Cebu present their complaints against Grade 5 adviser Jeremias Pino to DepEd Cebu Province Superintendent Dr. Arden Monisit. They say Pino has admitted to them that he lets students...
The parents included the complaint of tricycle drivers and habal-habal drivers against Pino for allegedly paying them less than the minimum fare.
Lenita Inacleto, 50, told reporters that Pino asked P50 from her 10-year-old daughter for scraping off paint from the classroom and for painting it red.
Inacleto, a shell gatherer, also accused the teacher of hitting her daughter more than once.
Sun.Star Cebu tried several times to get the side of Pino, to no avail.
Monisit has ordered an investigation on the parents’ allegations.
“Teachers should be bearers of the highest ethical standards,” he said.
A team that will be led by DepEd legal counsel Atty. Alfonso Saniel and members of the PTCA will visit the school today.
Sanctioned collections
Monisit said the only contributions approved by DepEd are for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, anti-tuberculosis and Philippine National Red Cross.
He said payments for the school’s electricity and water expenses are part of the annual operating expenses allotted to schools so there is no need to solicit funds for these purposes.
He also said that it is the PTA treasurer who is authorized to collect and not teachers.
“We need substantial evidence na mapakita naa siya gibuhat (that Pino committed these allegations,” Monisit said.
“We have rules and procedures in DepEd. This will be evaluated by the legal team. (There will be) possible suspension or possible dismissal if these charges are proven to be true,” he added.
Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez sent a letter to Monisit asking him to impose disciplinary action on Pino for alleged abuse of authority “for people of this kind should never be given the opportunity to be connected in the public service.”
