TL;DR: DepEd's no collection policy, anchored in DepEd Order No. 19, s. 2008 and reiterated repeatedly since (including ahead of SY 2026-2027), bars public schools from charging any fee, mandatory or voluntary, during enrollment. Pre-school through Grade 4 pay nothing at any point in the school year. Grade 5 and up may only be asked for voluntary contributions (PTA, Scouts, Red Cross, school publications capped at ₱60-₱90) starting the second month of classes, and non-payment can never be grounds for denying admission, promotion, or documents. Violations can be reported to action@deped.gov.ph or the 8888 hotline.
Every June, some public school parents get asked to pay something at enrollment, whether it's framed as a "PTA fee," a "miscellaneous fee," or a "voluntary contribution." Under DepEd policy, almost none of that is actually mandatory, and much of it isn't supposed to be collected during enrollment at all. This guide breaks down exactly what DepEd's no collection policy prohibits, what genuinely voluntary contributions still exist and when schools may ask for them, and what to do if a school crosses the line. If you're weighing public school against private school costs generally, see our private vs. public school cost guide for the broader picture; if you're gathering documents for enrollment itself, our enrollment requirements checklist covers the private-school side.
What Exactly Is the No Collection Policy?
It's DepEd's standing rule that public schools cannot charge students fees at enrollment, rooted in DepEd Order No. 19, s. 2008, "Implementation of No Collection Policy in All Public Elementary and Secondary Schools." The order exists to protect the constitutional guarantee of free public elementary and secondary education, and to remove one of the biggest practical barriers to keeping kids enrolled: out-of-pocket costs that fall hardest on lower-income families.
The policy isn't a one-time announcement. DepEd has reiterated it on a regular cadence for years, including division-level memoranda before SY 2026-2027 opened and a public statement from Education Secretary Sonny Angara in 2026 addressing a related concern: teachers spending their own money on classroom supplies. Angara was direct about the distinction between the two issues: "We know that many teachers voluntarily help because they love their students and schools, and we deeply appreciate this. But it should be clear that they are not required to spend from their own pockets." That statement targeted teacher-funded classroom costs specifically, not student fees, but it reflects the same underlying principle DepEd has repeatedly invoked: nobody in a public school, student or teacher, should be forced to pay for what the system is supposed to provide.
Disclaimer: this guide summarizes DepEd's published no collection policy. Specific enforcement, monitoring schedules, and division-level reminders can vary by school year; confirm current guidance with your division office if in doubt.
What Can Public Schools Never Charge?
| Grade Level | Enrollment Period | Rest of School Year |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-school through Grade 4 | No fees of any kind, mandatory or voluntary | No fees of any kind, mandatory or voluntary |
| Grade 5 through Grade 12 | No fees, mandatory or voluntary, during enrollment and the entire first month of classes | Voluntary contributions only, starting the second month of classes |
For pre-school through Grade 4 specifically, DO 19, s. 2008 states plainly: "No fees shall be collected from schoolchildren enrolling in pre-school up to Grade IV, during the enrolment period and at any time during the schoolyear." That covers even contributions that become voluntary for older students, such as Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts dues, Red Cross membership, and the Anti-TB Fund — none of it applies to these grade levels at all.
Which Contributions Are Genuinely Voluntary, and When?
For Grade 5 and up, schools may raise a defined set of voluntary contributions, but only starting the second month of classes, never during enrollment or the first month:
- PTA/PTCA dues — amount must be approved by a majority vote at a general PTA assembly, not set unilaterally by the school.
- Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) or Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) membership.
- Philippine Red Cross Youth membership.
- Anti-TB Fund Drive contributions.
- School publication fees, capped at ₱60 per elementary student and ₱90 per secondary student under DO 19, s. 2008.
- Student organization memberships within the school.
The key word throughout is voluntary. DepEd's policy is explicit that these contributions "shall in no case be made a basis for non-admission, non-promotion, or non-issuance of clearance to a student." A PTA can ask; it cannot require, and it cannot penalize a student whose family says no.
What Are the Rules Around PTA Contribution Collection?
PTAs cannot simply set an amount and start collecting. Before a PTA/PTCA collects any new contribution, DO 19, s. 2008 requires it to first present a utilization report on how the previous year's funds were spent, then have the proposed new contribution amount approved by a majority vote at a general assembly of PTA members, with the purpose and amount documented in a resolution. Contributions must also be properly receipted.
This process exists precisely to prevent a PTA fee from functioning like a hidden mandatory charge dressed up as "voluntary." If your school skips the utilization report or the assembly vote, or simply announces an amount without a vote, that's a process violation worth raising with the school or the division office.
Does This Policy Apply to Private Schools?
No. The no collection policy governs public elementary and secondary schools under DepEd. Private schools operate under a completely different fee structure, charging tuition, miscellaneous fees, and other charges that are disclosed and regulated separately, not restricted by DO 19, s. 2008. If you're comparing the actual cost difference between the two systems, our private vs. public school cost guide breaks down what private schools typically charge and why, and our education in the Philippines overview covers how the public and private systems fit together more broadly.
Disclaimer: fee rules and caps can be updated by DepEd issuance. Always confirm the currently applicable amounts and rules with your school's division office rather than relying solely on this summary.
How Do I Report a School That's Violating the Policy?
If a public school is charging fees during enrollment, treating a "voluntary" contribution as mandatory, or penalizing a student for non-payment, you have several channels:
- Email DepEd's Action Center at action@deped.gov.ph with the details and, if possible, documentation (a receipt, a notice, a text message).
- Call the 8888 Citizens' Complaint Hotline, the national government hotline that routes complaints to the responsible agency and requires initial feedback within 72 hours.
- Contact your Schools Division Office directly. Division offices are expected to actively monitor no-collection compliance during enrollment and the first month of classes, and can act faster on a specific, local complaint than a national hotline can.
- Keep records. A screenshot of a group chat message, a printed notice, or a receipt for an improperly-timed fee makes any complaint far easier to act on.
What Parents Can Do at Enrollment
- Know the calendar. No collection, mandatory or voluntary, is allowed during enrollment or the first month of classes for Grade 5 and up; for pre-school through Grade 4, that protection never lapses.
- Ask what any requested amount is for. A legitimate voluntary contribution should trace to an approved PTA resolution or a named, capped item like the school publication fee, not a vague "miscellaneous" charge.
- Don't pay under pressure of a threat. If a teacher or staff member implies a document, grade, or enrollment slot depends on payment, that's a direct violation you can report.
- Ask for a receipt for any payment, voluntary or not, so there's a paper trail if a dispute comes up later.
- Raise process gaps early. If your school skips the PTA utilization report or general assembly vote before asking for contributions, say so before paying, not after.
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Sources
- DepEd Order No. 19, s. 2008 — Implementation of No Collection Policy in All Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (official)
- School fees remain voluntary, DepEd reminds public schools — Philippine Information Agency
- DepEd orders 'no collection' policy amid concerns on teachers' expenses — BusinessWorld
- DepEd Order on No Collection Policy in All Public Schools — TeacherPH
- Got a complaint about a school? Call the DepEd — Philippine Daily Inquirer
- SchoolFinderPH — Private vs Public School Costs
- SchoolFinderPH — Education in the Philippines: A Complete Overview for Parents
- SchoolFinderPH — Enrollment Requirements Checklist for Private Schools
