The Department of Education (DepEd) will meet with the representatives of the Colegio De San Lorenzo (CDSL) as part of its efforts to ensure that learners who will be displaced due to its closure will be assisted.
DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa told the reporters on Wednesday, Aug, 17, that it already received a notification from CDSL informing the DepEd National Capital Region (NCR) that it will be “permanently closing.”
Even before receiving the said notice, Poa said that the DepEd-NCR Regional Director already formed a task force to coordinate with the owners of the CDSL.
Poa said that DepEd also sent a notice for a conference scheduled for Aug. 18.
“We are asking the owners or the officials of the school to appear before the regional director in Quezon City to find out explain why are they closing down, but more significantly, ano yung plano nila para doon sa mga mag-aaral or learners na parang madi-displace ngayon ,” he explained.
Located in Quezon City, CDSL is a private Catholic educational institution. On Aug, 15, the school announced that it will be permanently closing due to financial woes.
In a statement, CDSL explained that while students have already enrolled for the upcoming School Year (SY) 2022-2023, it would be “difficult” for the school to continue operating “due to the low turnout of enrollees” this year.
Despite the closure, CDSL assured that it will initiate “full refunds of fees paid” by the students. It also expressed readiness to “assist all student” for their transfer to other schools by “timely releasing their records and credentials.”
Poa said that DepEd is currently focusing on the students who will be displaced due to CDSL’s closure. “It’s really to find a way to ensure that the students can still continue their schooling,” he explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
So far, Poa said that the Thames International School in Quezon City also offered to absorb the displaced learners of CSDL.
Based on the letter sent to the Regional Director of DepEd NCR, Thames expressed readiness to “absorb” Grades 11 and 12 students at the same tuition fee rate charged by CDSL.
“This is a good development and we’re hoping that other private schools would also follow suit and help us absorb the learners,” he added.
While CDSL is a private school, Poa assured that the DepEd will continue to monitor the developments related to its closure --- especially its impact on the students. “We will make sure that the regional director, during his meeting, will bring up the issue of refund to ensure speedy process,” he explained.