High School scam

[Lee]

Was told by one of our nieces today about a handful of teachers in her HS who are scamming students out of cash if they miss a day of school for any reason.

Each day of school missed costs 100 Php---if you don't pay then you have failed these teachers classes.

Bil recently paid 500 Php when his daughter skipped school for a bit.

Was told that the HS principal doesn't know anything about the teachers supplemental income scam.

Has anyone else heard of this mess?

What can be done to stop it (at the local level)?

 

Edited September 27, 2025 by Lee
clarification

[Old55]

7 minutes ago, Lee said:

 

What can be done to stop it?

 

Stop corruption?  Not in our life time Lee...... Corruption is part of the curriculum. 

[graham59]

Heck...they're lucky the school is even open these days...certainly in our part of the world !

Any damned feeble excuse to declare 'no school' and deprive the kids of yet ANOTHER day of education. 

On your subject....needs reporting.  Anonymously is surely possible ?

Yes, these are the people/crooks supposedly setting an example for the next generation. Sickening. 

[Lee]

8 hours ago, graham59 said:

Any damned feeble excuse to declare 'no school' and deprive the kids of yet ANOTHER day of education. 

Last week the 3 barrio HSs were closed every day because of a typhoon that amounted to nothing locally.

This week the same schools will be closed M-W for a teachers seminar.

[Gator]

13 hours ago, Lee said:

Was told by one of our nieces today about a handful of teachers in her HS who are scamming students out of cash if they miss a day of school for any reason.

Each day of school missed costs 100 Php---if you don't pay then you have failed these teachers classes.

Bil recently paid 500 Php when his daughter skipped school for a bit.

Was told that the HS principal doesn't know anything about the teachers supplemental income scam.

Has anyone else heard of this mess?

What can be done to stop it (at the local level)?

 

I asked the wife about this. She said many private and some public schools charge fees for various things. Our nieces private high school would charge parents 150 pesos if they did not attend the monthly PTA meeting. But take note: it was decided and voted on at a PTA meeting to do that. The funds were accounted for and went to help defray the costs for various improvement projects. 

The wife did say it does sound like a scam since only a few teachers are doing it. Ask for a meeting with the principal and at least one of the teachers involved. Ask the teacher about it and ask where the pesos are going. Record the meeting getting everyone’s permission on video first. If you don’t get a valid reply, or if they refuse to reply, file a complaint with the Board of Education’s District Supervisor (be sure to let the principal know you’re doing that too).

If nothing happens work your way up the chain and you can also report it to Raffy Tulfo as he investigates these types of scams / corruption. 

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Gator said:

But take note: it was decided and voted on at a PTA meeting to do that.

I can almost see it in a private school, sort of like the old swear jar some offices would keep, and use the funds for office parties and such. But all were aware of it.

Maybe even in public schools if it was done above board, something has to take the place of the paddle or making them stand in the corner. Now that everyone uses white boards they do not even have erasers for the miscreants to bang together. 

But like most things here, I am forced to suspect the worst until proven otherwise 

[Lee]

3 hours ago, Gator said:

Ask for a meeting with the principal and at least one of the teachers involved. Ask the teacher about it and ask where the pesos are going.

Doing as you suggest would draw undue attention to myself which is something I always try to avoid.

Reporting this scam anonymously would seem the best way to avoid scrutiny but am unsure who to contact that might gets this mess stopped. It's a very small barrio that has little else for its residents to do but gossip. If you publicly call out a teacher by name (we know who they are), they will simply lie their way out of it and the student might suffer the consequences of this action. A he said/she said situation probably wouldn't do anything but make someone mad.

If I let the wife handle this can be problematic and she has the tact of a bulldog going for a jugular---you don't really want to tangle with her.

She has a heart condition now so its best for her to avoid stress as much as possible. 

Edited September 28, 2025 by Lee
clarification

[Gator]

3 hours ago, Lee said:

Doing as you suggest would draw undue attention to myself which is something I always try to avoid.

Reporting this scam anonymously would seem the best way to avoid scrutiny but am unsure who to contact that might gets this mess stopped. It's a very small barrio that has little else for its residents to do but gossip. If you publicly call out a teacher by name (we know who they are), they will simply lie their way out of it and the student might suffer the consequences of this action. A he said/she said situation probably wouldn't do anything but make someone mad.

If I let the wife handle this can be problematic and she has the tact of a bulldog going for a jugular---you don't really want to tangle with her.

She has a heart condition now so its best for her to avoid stress as much as possible. 

I understand, and if your BIL also doesn’t want to report it, then I’d say attempt to document it secretly with just the teachers (or at least one of them) in the video and send it anonymously to the district supervisor. Either that or keep paying and just add it to the long list of corrupt crap that happens there on a daily basis. 

If they have a FB page you could also post it anonymously there (make up a fake account and join their groups). 

[hk blues]

Before jumping in I'd verify that what is really going on - you know how kids can exaggerate.

But, if it is as you believe, it's kinda shocking and tantamount to extortion so needs dealt with.  Maybe DepEd local office could assist? 

[JJReyes]

I love the idea of charging students a fee for missing school.  But the revenues generated should go to a worthy cause rather than someone's pocket.  My reason is they will have to go to their parents for the money, thus exposing the fact they were skipping classes.