No Fees During Enrollment in Ozamiz Schools
The Department of Education’s Division of Ozamiz City has issued a memorandum reiterating that schools must not collect fees during the enrollment period. The message protects student admission by keeping registration free of compulsory payments, regardless of grade level, school type or payment method.
For Australian readers, the policy has a familiar ring. Families often talk about “school fees,” “enrolment forms” and “parent contributions”; government schools are generally tuition-free, while independent schools publish charges and payment plans. The memorandum is a Philippine DepEd instruction, but the expectation of clear communication and no surprises travels well.
What the directive requires
The directive is about the enrollment period itself. A school cannot turn registration, student admission, the submission of records or class placement into an occasion to demand cash, a bank transfer, an online payment or a compulsory contribution. The absence of a fee should be treated as the normal process, not a concession.
Administrators should also check that forms, messages and payment channels match the rule. A family asking about a supposed enrollment charge should receive an explanation and a referral to the principal or division office, not a request to pay first. Any charge outside enrollment must have a clear basis and comply with applicable DepEd requirements.
Why fee-free enrollment matters
Removing fees from enrollment widens access for families facing financial pressure and reduces barriers to attendance. It also protects trust: parents are more likely to approach a school when they believe its records and promises are fair. A transparent admission process lets education staff focus on placement, student welfare and the accuracy of enrolment documents.
Australian families in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are used to termly invoices, online statements and receipts, particularly at independent schools, and many expect parent portals rather than cash handling. Ozamiz schools do not need to copy Australia’s fee model; they can adopt the same clarity. “No surprises” should mean no compulsory enrollment payment, while genuine later obligations are explained separately and properly authorised.
Responsibilities across the school community
Public and private schools in the division should give the instruction the same attention. Principals and school administrators can set a simple rule for staff: do not collect, solicit or bundle an enrollment fee. Teachers and designated personnel can reinforce it during registration, but should direct unresolved questions to the authorised school or division contact.
Parents and guardians likewise need a practical route for raising a concern. They should keep written messages, avoid paying under pressure, and ask for the basis of any demand through official school channels. Where a request conflicts with the memorandum, the matter can be escalated to the principal, division office or the relevant DepEd system for documentation and assistance.
A fair comparison for families and schools
The distinction between enrollment activity and a later legitimate charge is important because vague requests create confusion. Families and staff should use the following comparison when a payment is mentioned during student registration.
| Enrollment situation | What a family should expect | What a school should do |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or student admission | No enrollment fee is collected | Complete official forms and records without payment |
| Cash, transfer or online request | No payment or receipt should be required | Explain the rule and refer the family to authorised contacts |
| Charge discussed after enrollment | Any later charge must have a stated purpose and authority | Document the basis separately and follow applicable requirements |
If a message asks families to “sort out” a compulsory contribution before a student is admitted, it should be checked immediately. Written clarification, a refund where a payment was made in error, and a consistent response across public and private schools are more useful than informal promises at the gate.
Preparing personnel and systems
Preparing people and paperwork in advance reduces pressure at the start of registration. New staff joining a school or the division can consult the required teacher onboarding documents for personnel records, while leaders confirm that onboarding steps are kept separate from any enrollment transaction.
Before enrollment opens, administrators should brief teachers, administrative staff, parents and guardians on the no-collection policy, available forms and escalation points. Orientation materials, announcements and parent meetings should use the same message. Attendance, biometric, document-tracking and other DepEd systems may support accurate administration, but none creates authority to collect a prohibited fee.
Digital administration and public accountability
Reliable digital access helps offices explain the policy and maintain dependable records. At division level, the internet subscription renewal is a separate procurement and continuity matter; keeping that distinction clear shows how operational work supports public education without turning system maintenance into an enrollment charge.
DepEd Ozamiz links personnel and stakeholders to regional and national systems, so questions and transactions should move through recognised channels rather than personal accounts. This fits Australia’s largely cashless school administration market, where email, parent portals, card payments and bank transfers are routine. Digital convenience should never weaken the rule: if no fee is due, no payment should be initiated.
Make fee-free enrollment a shared practice
The memorandum works best when it becomes routine rather than a reminder delivered after a complaint. Division and school leaders can share the guidance consistently in English, Filipino and Cebuano, include it in staff briefings, and make clear that enrollment remains free of compulsory charges. Families should see the same answer from the classroom, office and division communications.
Post the memorandum through official DepEd Ozamiz channels, brief every school before registration opens, and give parents and guardians a named contact for questions. By keeping enrollment fee-free, documenting concerns and refusing workaround requests, the division can turn a memorandum into a fair and consistent start to every student’s schooling journey.