(General legal information; not legal advice.)

1) Why this issue matters legally

“Mandatory school contributions” (often collected for class funds, projects, PTA needs, “donations,” graduation activities, school improvement, security, ID, or miscellaneous costs) raise two recurring legal questions:

Can a school require the payment at all?
If payment is collected, is a receipt required and what kind?

In the Philippine context, the answer depends on (a) whether the school is public or private, (b) what the payment is called versus what it really is, (c) whether the collection is authorized by the proper education authority, and (d) whether the collection is properly documented and accounted for.

A key principle: Calling a collection a “donation” does not automatically make it voluntary, and calling it “voluntary” does not automatically make it lawful if the actual practice is coercive.

2) Basic categories of school payments (and why names can be misleading)

A. Tuition and school fees (private schools)

Private schools may charge tuition and other school fees subject to education regulation, disclosures, and school policies. These are generally chargeable so long as properly approved, disclosed, and collected in line with applicable rules and contracts/enrollment agreements.

B. Authorized contributions/charges (public schools)

Public schools generally operate on the principle of free basic education, with limited, regulated circumstances for collections. Where collections are permitted, they are typically tied to approved programs and require transparency and accounting.

C. Voluntary donations or contributions

A true donation must be voluntary, meaning:

No coercion,
No penalty for non-payment,
No discriminatory treatment of students who do not pay,
No withholding of grades, exams, clearance, cards, certificates, or participation as punishment for non-payment (unless a lawful fee is genuinely required by rule).

If the school (or teachers, officers, or PTA) says “voluntary” but treats it as a requirement, it can become legally problematic.

3) Receipt issue: what “no receipt” usually signals legally

A “mandatory contribution without receipt” commonly indicates one or more risks:

Poor internal controls / accounting violations (especially in public institutions handling funds)
Unapproved collection (collected informally outside authorized channels)
Potential misuse or misappropriation (if money cannot be traced)
Tax and regulatory non-compliance (for private entities issuing no official documentation)

In practice, even when an “official receipt” in the tax sense is not required for every scenario, some form of written acknowledgment and proper accounting is typically expected, especially where collection is portrayed as mandatory.

4) Public schools: the core legal frame (free basic education + regulated collections)

A. General rule: basic education in public schools is free

Public elementary and secondary education is intended to be accessible without compulsory collections that become barriers to attendance.

B. Commonly challenged practices in public schools

These are frequent sources of complaints when paired with “mandatory” language and no receipt:

Required “class fund” or “teacher’s fund”
Required payments for cleaning materials, electric fan/TV, classroom repairs, bond paper, decorations
Mandatory “donations” for school improvements
Payments demanded as a condition for exams, card release, clearance, moving up/graduation participation
Collections handled personally by teachers or student officers with no written accounting

C. Legality test for public-school collections

Public-school collections become legally questionable when they are:

Not authorized under applicable education rules or local guidelines,
Coercive in practice, and/or
Not properly accounted for with documentation, receipts/acknowledgments, and transparent reporting.

D. Receipting and accountability (public context)

When funds are collected in a public-school setting, there is heightened expectation of:

Clear documentation of purpose,
Recording of payers and amounts,
Transparent liquidation or financial reporting, and
A paper trail consistent with government accountability norms.

Even when the money is held by an auxiliary body (like a PTA), if collection affects access to school services or is done “through the school,” it should still meet transparency and documentation standards.

5) Private schools: contract + regulation + consumer protection principles

A. Fees must be properly disclosed and part of authorized school charges

In private schools, what can be collected depends on:

Published fee schedules,
Enrollment agreements,
Approval/disclosure rules for tuition and other fees, and
School policies that must not be contrary to law or public policy.

If a charge is “mandatory,” it should normally appear in official schedules or be supported by a clear written basis.

B. Receipt expectations (private context)

When a private school collects money, it is typically expected to provide documentary acknowledgment—often an official receipt or equivalent proof of payment—because:

It’s part of routine financial controls,
It protects both the payer and the institution,
It supports transparency and dispute resolution.

“Cash collection with no receipt” is not automatically illegal in every conceivable situation, but it is a strong compliance red flag—especially if the charge is mandatory and not reflected in official billing.

C. Misrepresentation and unfair collection practices

If the school or its agents represent a payment as required when it is not authorized or not properly disclosed, issues may arise under:

Consumer and contract principles (misrepresentation, unfair terms),
Education regulations on fees,
General civil law (damages, restitution).

6) PTA and “homeroom” or class collections: where disputes often arise

Many “mandatory contributions” are not imposed by the school as an institution but by:

PTA officers,
Class officers,
Teachers acting as “collection coordinators,”
Parents’ group chats,
Batch/committee organizers.

A. PTA-related collections

PTAs may raise funds for legitimate purposes, but a PTA collection becomes legally problematic if:

It is treated as a condition for a child’s participation in school rights/activities,
It is forced or shaming is used (“names posted,” “no payment, no…”)
There is no financial reporting, and
There are no receipts or acknowledgments and no audit trail.

B. “Homeroom funds” and teacher-collected cash

Teacher-collected cash with no receipt is especially sensitive because it:

Blurs personal custody and official handling,
Exposes both teacher and parents to allegations,
Makes liquidation and accountability difficult.

Even if the intent is benign, lack of documentation creates governance and legal risk.

7) “Mandatory but no receipt”: common legal arguments

A. It may be an unauthorized fee disguised as a contribution

When mandatory payments are demanded outside official billing or approvals, the practice can be attacked as an unauthorized collection.

B. It may violate the voluntariness of “donations”

A donation must be voluntary. If nonpayment results in:

Withheld grades/report card,
Denial of exams,
Denial of clearance,
Exclusion from moving up/graduation rites (beyond legitimate requirements),
Public shaming or discrimination,

then the payment is not truly voluntary.

C. It may violate transparency/accountability norms

Lack of receipts, lack of written purpose, no liquidation reports, and unclear custody of funds can support complaints for:

Administrative accountability issues (especially for public school personnel),
Governance issues (PTA or school administration),
Potential civil claims if money is misused.

D. It can support civil recovery if funds are improperly collected

If you can show you paid money under coercion/misrepresentation and received no proper documentation, you may pursue:

Refund/restitution (unjust enrichment),
Damages in appropriate cases,
Administrative remedies.

8) What counts as a “receipt” in practice

People often mean different things by “receipt.” These are common forms:

Official Receipt (OR) (typical for formal institutional collections)
Acknowledgment Receipt (AR) signed by an authorized officer
Cash/collection stub with date, amount, purpose, payer name, and collector’s name/signature
Digital proof (bank transfer record) plus written confirmation from the receiving organization

For a mandatory collection, best practice is documentation that clearly states:

Amount, date, payer, purpose,
Name/position of collector and authority,
Where funds will be deposited/held,
How liquidation/reporting will occur.

9) Practical legality checklists

A. Red flags that suggest the collection is likely problematic

“Mandatory” cash collection not reflected in official fee schedules (private school)
“Donation” but required to pass, take exams, get grades/cards, or join basic school activities
No written authorization, no policy memo, no PTA resolution/minutes
Collector refuses to issue any acknowledgment
No liquidation/reporting; unclear who holds the money
Cash-only; personal e-wallet/bank accounts; no official deposit trail
Threats, shaming, or discrimination against non-paying students

B. Indicators a collection is more defensible

Clear written basis (school circular/approved fee schedule/PTA resolution)
Voluntary nature is genuine (no penalties or discrimination)
Transparent accounting and periodic reporting
Receipts/acknowledgments issued consistently
Funds deposited in an appropriate account under proper controls

10) Remedies and where complaints commonly go (Philippine setting)

The appropriate forum depends on the type of school and who collected.

A. Within the school

Start with written complaint to the class adviser, grade level coordinator, principal, or school administrator.
Request: written basis for the collection, accounting/liquidation report, and issuance of receipts/acknowledgments.

B. Public schools

Complaints may be elevated through the schools division channels and other relevant administrative pathways. Allegations involving coercive collections and lack of accounting can raise administrative accountability issues for personnel.

C. Private schools

Complaints are typically handled through internal grievance mechanisms and, where appropriate, escalated to education regulatory channels that oversee private school compliance.

D. PTA

If PTA-led, demand:

Resolution or authority for the collection,
Official acknowledgment/receipts,
Liquidation report with supporting documents,
Return of funds if collection was misrepresented as mandatory.

11) Evidence: what parents/students should keep

Screenshots of messages stating “mandatory,” deadlines, consequences
Lists of payers/non-payers (if posted)
Proof of payment (cash notes, e-wallet transfers, bank deposits)
Names of collectors and witnesses
Any written memos, letters, group chat announcements
Requests you made for a receipt and the refusal/response
Any retaliation evidence (denied exam, withheld card, exclusion)

12) Key takeaways in one line each

A “mandatory contribution” can be legally vulnerable if it functions as an unauthorized fee or a coerced donation.
“No receipt” is a major accountability and compliance red flag, especially where collection is mandatory.
The legality turns on authorization, voluntariness, transparency, and documentation, plus whether the school is public or private.
The strongest complaints are evidence-driven: show the demand, the coercion (if any), the payment, and the refusal to document or account for funds.