The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said they will help in finding schools to transfer the displaced students of Colegio de San Lorenzo after it announced permanent closure due to financial instability caused by the pandemic.
In an interview during DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan, Atty. Michael Poa, the education department spokesperson, said they are coordinating with schools that are willing to absorb the students.
“Meron pong isang school sa Quezon City na nagsabi na po handa po silang mag-absorb ng mga learners sa Colegio de San Lorenzo, batay po din sa kung ano mang tuition fee na binayad sa kanila, same rates din po ang i-impose sa kanila,” he said.
Poa said they are hoping that the administration of Colegio de San Lorenzo will be true to its promise that it will refund the students’ tuition fees as stated in its press release.
However, Poa asserted that the college did not give prior notice to the education department about its permanent closure.
“Kami po sa Department of Education ay sa totoo lang nagulat dito sa pagsasara ng Colegio de San Lorenzo. Kausap po yung regional director concern just this morning at kahapon nag co-coordinate po kami. Wala po kasi silang paunag pasabi sa Department of Education. Wala silang any formal communication sa amin na magsasara sila. That’s why nagulat din po kami kahapon,” he said.
The education spox explained that a college can only cease operation after DepEd issues an acknowledgment of closure, this is in accordance with section 43 of the department order no. 88, s. 2010.
“Ang DepEd po ay nagbibigay ng acknowledgement of closure pero ayun po ay binibigay lang po yan kapag lahat po ng transfer of credentials ng kanilang mga estudyante o learners ay na-process na po,” he explained.
Under the said DepEd order, the school is obliged to “furnish the necessary transfer credentials and records of students to the students affected by the closure.”
“Sa ngayon, hindi pa talaga kami magbibigay ng acknowledgement pa kung walang kasiguraduhan na-process yung transfer of credentials,” he added.
The Colegio de San Lorenzo announced its permanent closure on Monday, formally marking the end of its three-decade-long operation.
It stated that it would be difficult to continue operating due to low enrollee turnout for the school year 2022-2023.
