09/02/2026
"DepEd Guidelines and Policies on School 'King and Queen' Fundraising Contests"
🔶 In the Philippine education system, "King and Queen" or "Mr. and Ms." contests where the winner is determined by the amount of money raised (often called "popularity contests" or "money contests") are a common but highly regulated practice.
🔶 The Department of Education (DepEd) maintains a strict "No Collection Policy," which makes these events a legal and ethical "gray area." Here is the breakdown of the guidelines and policies governing these activities.
⚪1. The "No Collection" Policy
👉According to Republic Act No. 5546 (the Ganzon Law) and DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2012, the sale of tickets or the collection of contributions from students and teachers is strictly prohibited.
👉Voluntary Nature: Any contribution must be entirely voluntary. No student can be forced to participate, and their grades or school standing cannot be affected by whether or not they join or "vote" with money.
👉Prohibition on Teachers: Under DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009, teachers and school personnel are prohibited from handling the money. They cannot be the ones collecting or managing the funds raised from these contests.
⚪2. PTA-Initiated Fundraising
👉Since schools themselves cannot legally run "money contests," these events are usually organized by the School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA).
👉Purpose: The funds must be for a specific project (e.g., repairing a canteen, buying electric fans) that is part of the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
👉Approval: The activity must have a formal Resolution from the PTA and must be approved in writing by the School Head.
👉Transparency: The PTA is required to submit a financial report after the event. All proceeds must be used for the school project and eventually "donated" to the school.
⚪3. Disruption of Classes
👉DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2005 (Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on-Task) prohibits any activity that disrupts regular instructional time.
👉Contest preparations (rehearsals, canvassing of votes) should not happen during class hours.
👉Coronation nights or pageants are usually held on weekends or after school hours to comply with this "time-on-task"
⚪4. Risks and Penalties
👉While these contests are a traditional way to raise funds for cash-strapped schools, they are often discouraged by DepEd because:
👉Commercialization: They can put undue pressure on poor families to "buy" a title for their child.
👉Bullying: Students who cannot contribute may feel excluded or shamed.
👉Legal Action: School heads can face administrative cases if it is proven that the "contributions" were mandatory or if school funds/personnel were used to run a money-making pageant.
✅Who handles money?
Only the PTA Treasurer; never the teacher.
✅Participation:
Must be 100% voluntary. No quotas allowed.
✅Schedule : Must not disrupt classes.
✅Prizes: Should be modest; the focus must be the school project.
📌Pro-Tip: If you are a parent or teacher involved in such a contest, ensure there is a signed PTA Resolution and a clear financial liquidation posted on the school's transparency board to avoid legal trouble.
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