Illegal School in Negros Oriental

A French national along with many locals are pursuing complaints against a local school operating without the necessary permits. The pupils in this local kindergarten and elementary school are not listed in the Learner Information System. Thus, a whole school year of wasted time and money.

Arjune Learning Center (ALC) – Illegal School

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified the “illegal” school as Arjune Learning Center. It is located in Barangay Pulantubig and is owned & operated by a certain Victoria Aro Sadia (the school directress). Arjune Learning Center has different branches in Negros Oriental; namely in Tanjay City, Sibulan & Siaton.

The parent-complainants cried foul over the one-year wasted time as well as the money they paid as tuition for the school. Tuition Fees at ALC is at Php 17,000 for the whole year for kindergarten, and around Php 20,000 for the elementary level, including textbooks. Parents reported that kindergarten pupils are holding classes in the living room, while the Grade 1 to Grade 3 pupils is placed in one classroom, and Grade 4 to Grade 6 pupils in another.

The French national, whose identity is unrevealed as requested, enrolled three of his children in Arjune Learning Center for the school year 2018-2019. He then decided to transfer his kids to a science school last June. However, he was informed that the names of his children could not be seen in the Department of Education (DepEd) Learner Information System (LIS). According to the science school, Arjune Learning Center is not a registered name. Therefore, the previous school year attended by his kids were marked invalid.

According to the Department of Education Dumaguete City Division Superintendent, Evangel Luminarias, she issued a certificate dated June 6, 2019. Based on their records, Arjune Learning Center in Pulantubig has issued a temporary permit for kindergarten effective School Year 2019-2020. Therefore, any stating operation for the school year 2018-2019 is not recognized.

In the meantime, the DepEd is enjoined to check on the integrity of residential buildings being converted into classrooms including facilities like in the case of the Arjune Learning Center. To resolve the matters of the invalid school year, NBI-Dumaguete Special Agent Ma. Contessa Lastimoso said she was informed that the parents were told they could have their children enrolled in the next level after passing the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) and Equivalency Program, which they already took last June. A simple test will then identify if the pupils are indeed ready to go to the next level or have to retake the same level again.

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