FALSE. Cebuano veteran journalist Leo Lastimosa claims that Cebu City Science High School (CCSHS) solicits School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) contributions in exchange for promised grades.
FACT. CCSHS maintains a merit-based grading system, and all SPTA contributions are voluntary and separate from student evaluation.
CCSHS has moved to dispel the allegation after Lastimosa published a Facebook reel on February 8 claiming that some teachers allegedly promised good grades in exchange for favorable performance ratings. The post cited unnamed parents and anecdotal reports as evidence but provided no verifiable sources to substantiate the claim.
Lastimosa’s framing cast students as victims of unfair practices, triggering concern and confusion among parents, students, and other stakeholders in the community. In response, CCSHS clarified that grades are determined solely by academic performance, based on students’ exams, projects, and classroom outputs.
SPTA President Mrs. Joanne Arriba also addressed the accusation, explaining that all contributions are strictly allocated to extracurricular programs, facility upgrades, and student enrichment activities. She emphasized that all public schools often rely on parent contributions to supplement limited government funding.
The school’s student publication, Scholars’ Voice, published a column debunking the allegation, calling it “a rumor dressed up as a headline.” School administrators supported the report, with teachers reiterating that academic evaluation remains performance-based and free from monetary influence.
Students likewise pushed back against the claim, saying it unfairly tarnishes the reputation of both the PTA and the student body, while spreading mistrust without evidence.
