Couple asks DepEd to close school for having no permit

A COUPLE is asking the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) to close a private school in Lapu-Lapu City for allegedly failing  to secure a permit to operate for the current school year.

Leslie and Kristine Wolf said they wrote DepEd-7 Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia asking him to close Santo Niño Mactan Montessori School (SNMMS) in sitio Soong 1, barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, because of reports that the grade school was operating  without the necessary permits.

Sunshine Lim, SNMMS school coordinator,  denied the couple’s allegations. She said  the school was diligent in complying with legal paperwork.

The Wolfs called a  press conference on Monday to complain that the school’s status would jeopardize  their three children’s education.

They said that they found out that a 2008 DepEd order  requires a student enrolled in a school operating without the necessary permits to take a validating exam to assess  a pupil’s grades.

But Lim said on Monday that the school was able to submit  requirements  for school year 2011-2012 in March 2011.

Lim said the school was willing to show the receipt given by DepEd-7.

Lim, however, said that despite complying with  requirements, Deped-7 hasn’t  released their permit.

Lim said the Wolf couple complained  after the school ordered the couple not to bring their son to school but instead let him undergo a home study program.

Lim said the school’s action was made after several parents complained of Wolf’s son allegedly bullying their children.

The Wolfs have  since filed a child abuse case against Lim and the school for their action. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza