Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Schools Division Office of
Urdaneta City

ST. ANDREW
MONTESSORI AND
HIGH SCHOOL, INC.
Nancayasan, Urdaneta City,
Pangasinan

ADMINISTRATIVE

MANUAL

A Guide for School

Office (Policies
and Procedures)
S.Y. 2020-2021
 E. Assessing Board Performance St. Andrew Montessori and High School, Inc.
The Board shall conduct an annual self-assessment of its performance, Nancayasan, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
including the performance of the Chairman, individual members and
committees.
Administration Manual on Governance
F. Strengthening Board Ethics
The Board shall adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which would
I. INTRODUCTION
provide standards for professional and ethical behavior, including acceptable
and unacceptable conduct and practices in internal and external dealings. The The Board of Trustees and Management of St. Andrew Montessori and High
Code shall be properly disseminated to the Board, senior management and School, Inc. commit themselves to the principles contained in this Manual, which
employees and disclosed through orientation with the stakeholders. The Board is based on SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2016, on the Code of
shall ensure the proper and efficient implementation and monitoring of Corporate Governance for Publicly-Listed Companies.
compliance with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and internal policies.

II. OBJECTIVE
IV. DISCLOSURE AND TRANSPARENCY Good corporate governance is necessary to achieve SAMHSI’s corporate goals.
This Manual institutionalizes the principles of good corporate governance in the
A. Enhancing Company Disclosure Policies and Procedures organization.
1. The Board shall establish corporate disclosure policies and procedures
to ensure a comprehensive, accurate, reliable and timely report to
III. THE BOARD’S GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
shareholders and other stakeholders that gives a fair and complete
A. Establishing a Competent Board
picture of the organization’s financial condition, results and business
operations. 1. The Board shall be composed of trustees with appropriate mix of knowledge,
experience or expertise that is relevant to the Education sector. The Board shall
2. The Board shall fully disclose all relevant and material information on
ensure that its members remain qualified for their positions individually and
individual board members and key officers to evaluate their experience
collectively, to enable it to fulfill its roles and responsibilities relative to the needs
and qualifications, and assess any potential conflicts of interest that of the organization. The Board shall ensure that its composition considers the
might affect their judgment. obligations of an equal opportunity institution.
3. The organization shall provide a clear disclosure of its policies and 2. Each Board trustee shall undergo an orientation program to educate the
procedure for setting Board and executive remuneration, as well as the trustee about his/her duties and responsibilities, the Company’s business,
level and mix of the same in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. corporate governance, Code of Conduct, and other relevant information. The
Company shall also provide all trustees with relevant continuing education
4. The Organization shall make a full, fair, accurate and timely disclosure
program.
to the public of every material fact or event that occurs, particularly on 3. The Board shall ensure that it is assisted in its duties by a Corporate
the acquisition or disposal of significant assets, which could adversely Secretary.
affect the viability or the interest of its shareholders and other 4. The Board shall ensure that it is assisted in its duties by a Compliance Officer,
stakeholders. who shall have a rank or position with adequate stature and authority in the
association.
B. Establishing clear roles and responsibilities of the Board C. Establishing Board Committees

1. The Board members shall act on a fully informed basis, in good faith, *(Refer to St. Andrew Montessori and High School, Inc. By-Laws of
with due diligence and care, and in the best interest of the institution Incorporation, Articles III, IV, V, VI)
and all shareholders. 1. The Board shall establish board committees that focus on specific board
2. The Board shall be headed by a competent and qualified Chairperson. functions to aid in the optimal performance of its roles and responsibilities.
3. The Board shall be responsible for ensuring and adopting an effective 2. The Board shall establish an Audit Committee to enhance its oversight
succession planning program (including retirement age) for trustees, capability over the institutions financial reporting, internal control system,
key officers and management. internal and external audit processes, and compliance with applicable
4. The Board shall align the remuneration of key officers and board laws and regulations. The committee shall be composed of at least three
members with the long-term interests of the company. Further, no appropriately qualified non-executive trustees, the majority of whom,
trustee shall participate in discussions or deliberations involving his including the Chairman, should be independent. All of the members of the
own remuneration. committee must have relevant background, knowledge, skills, and/or
5. The Board shall have a formal and transparent board nomination and experience in the areas of accounting, auditing and finance. The
election policy that should include: Chairman of the Audit Committee shall not be the chairman of the Board
or ideally, of any other committees.
a) how it accepts nominations from minority shareholders; 3. The Board shall establish a Corporate Governance Committee that shall
b) how it reviews nominated candidates; be tasked to assist the Board in the performance of its corporate
c) and an assessment of the effectiveness of the Board’s processes and governance responsibilities. It shall be composed of at least three
procedures in the nomination, election or replacement of a trustee. members, a majority of whom should be independent trustees, including
the Chairman thorough knowledge and experience on risk and risk
6. The Board shall establish an effective performance management management.
framework that will ensure that the Management, including the 4. All established committees shall have Committee Charters stating in plain
Chairman of the Board, and personnel’s performance is at par with the terms their respective purposes, memberships, structures, operations,
standards set by the Board and Senior Management. reporting processes, resources and other relevant information.
7. The Board shall oversee that an appropriate internal control system is D. Fostering Commitment
in place, including setting up a mechanism for monitoring and 1. The trustees shall attend and actively participate in all meetings of the
managing potential conflicts of interest of Management, board Board of Trustees, Board Committees, and Members in person or through
members, and shareholders. The Board shall also approve the Internal teleconferencing/ videoconferencing conducted in accordance with the
Audit Charter. rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, except
when justifiable causes bearing on serious personal and professional
issues or unforeseen and fortuitous events prevent them from doing so.
2. In Board and Committee meetings, the Trustees shall review meeting
materials and, if called for, ask the necessary questions or seek
clarifications and explanations.
VIII. ADOPTION AND EFFECTIVITY B. Strengthening the external auditor’s independence and improving audit
quality
1. The Audit Committee shall have a robust process for approving and
This Manual is adopted by the Board of Trustees on November 23,
recommending the appointment, reappointment, removal, and fees of
2020.
the external auditor. The appointment, reappointment, removal, and fees
of the external auditor shall be recommended by the Audit Committee,
approved by the Board and ratified by the shareholders. For removal of
the external auditor, the reasons for removal or change should be
Signed by:
disclosed to the regulators and the public through meetings and
announcement to the organization’s FB page.
2. The Audit Committee Charter shall include the Audit Committee’s
responsibility on assessing the integrity and independence of external
auditors and exercising effective oversight to review and monitor the
_____________________________ external auditor’s independence and objectivity and the effectiveness of
the audit process, taking into consideration relevant Philippine
Lena L. Duque
professional and regulatory requirements.
Chairman of the Board

D. Promoting a comprehensive and cost-efficient access to relevant

information
The Company shall include media and analyst briefings as channels of
communication to ensure the timely and accurate dissemination of public,
___________________________________ material and relevant information to its shareholders.
Jesus L. Duque V. INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND RISK MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK
Treasurer/ Registrar
Strengthening the internal control system and enterprise risk management
framework
1. The University shall have an adequate and effective internal control
system and an enterprise risk management framework in the conduct of
_____________________________ its business operation.
2. The organization shall have in place an independent internal audit
Alejandro L. Duque III function that provides an independent and objective assurance, and
Compliance Officer/ Board Secretary consulting services designed to add value and improve the institution’s
operations.
VI. CULTIVATING A SYNERGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH SHAREHOLDERS A. Encouraging Employee’s Participation

1. The Board shall establish policies, programs and procedures that

Promoting shareholders’ rights
encourage employees to actively participate in the realization of the
Institution’s goals and its governance.
1. The Board shall ensure that shareholders are informed of their basic 2. The Board shall adopt an anti-corruption policy and program in its Code
rights. The shareholders’ rights shall be disclosed in the Organization’s of Conduct which shall be dissimilated to employees across the
meetings and manuals. organization through trainings to embed them in the Institution’s culture.
2. The Board shall encourage active shareholder participation by sending 3. The Board shall establish a suitable framework for whistleblowing that
the Notice of Annual and Special Shareholders’ Meeting with sufficient allows employees to freely communicate their concerns about illegal or
and relevant information at least 28 days before the meeting. unethical practices, without fear of retaliation and to have direct access
3. The Board shall make available, whenever warranted, an alternative to an independent member of the Board or a unit created to handle
dispute mechanism to resolve intra-corporate disputes in an amicable whistleblowing concerns. The Board shall be conscientious in
and effective manner. This mechanism should be disclosed an official establishing the framework, as well as in supervising and ensuring its
document, who should be present at every shareholders’ meeting. enforcement.

VII. DUTIES TO STAKEHOLDERS

B. ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

C. Respecting Rights of Stakeholders and Effective Redress for
Violation of Stakeholder’s Rights The Institution shall recognize and place an importance on the
interdependence between the institution and society, and promote a
beneficial relationship that allows the organization to grow, while
1. The Board shall identify the University’s various stakeholders and
contributing to the advancement of the society where it operates.
promote cooperation between them and the University in creating
wealth, growth and sustainability.
2. The board shall establish clear policies and programs to provide a
mechanism on the fair treatment and protection of stakeholders. The
board shall adopt a transparent framework and process that allow
stakeholders to communicate with the institution and to obtain redress
for the violation of their rights.
 For enrollment purposes, the name and other personal data or
circumstances of each student as officially indicated on his certificate of birth, or
alien certificate of registration, if applicable shall be strictly observed and
follow.
The Secretary shall issue rules governing student records in private
schools based on generally accepted practices and the provisions of DepEd
Manual.

ENROLLMENT
POLICY and
PROCEDURES
 School Operation

ST. ANDREW MONTESSORI AND HIGH SCHOOL, INC.

School Administrative Matter
Nancayasan, Urdaneta City

 Standard and Change of Calendar. The standard calendars

for elementary and secondary courses shall be issued by the
Secretary.
ENROLLMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES
 Enrollment Period and Opening of Classes. The period and
other aspects of enrollment in all private schools shall be
regulated by the Secretary.
 Standard Class Periods. Unless otherwise provided for by the
Definition of Terms
Secretary, the standard periods for the elementary and
secondary course shall be sixty minutes.
 “School” means an educational institution, private or public,
undertaking educational operations with an organized group of Enrollment of Students
pupils or students pursuing defined studies at defined levels,
 Policy. Every student has the right to enroll in any private
receiving instructions from teachers, usually located in a building
school upon meeting the specific standards and reasonable
or group of buildings particular physical or cyber site recognized
regulations as well as the requirements prescribed by the law.
by the state and specifically intended for educational purposes.
Except in the cases of academic delinquencies and violations of
 “Private School” means a private owned and managed institution
disciplinary regulations, the students shall be presumed
for teaching and learning, established and authorized by the
qualified for enrollment for the entire period he is expected to
Department of Education to operate certain educational programs
complete his hours without prejudice to his right to transfer as
in accordance with law and the prescribed policies and rules of the
provided for in his Manual and its implementing rules.
Department.

Enrollment and Class Size

 The enrollment and class sizes in every subject of each private
school shall be determined by the school taking into account the
total absorption capacity of its facilities, the level of instruction,
the nature of subject, such as other factors as maybe conducive
to the teaching-learning process.
Transfer of Students and Transfer Credentials. A pupil/student enrolled Rules for Registration
in one school is entitled to transfer to another school provided he has no The enrollment of pupils/students in every private school shall be
unsettled obligations with the school he was enrolled in. conducted during the registration days indicated on the approved school
calendar and the pertinent procedure of school, and subject to the following
rules;
Provisional Enrolment. In meritorious cases as may be determined by the
private school concerned, a student without any appropriate a) When the student registers in school, it is understood that he is
admission/transfer credentials maybe provisionally enrolled, allowed to to enrolling for the entire school year for elementary and secondary
attend classes and to earn credits for the subject he is enrolled in during the courses.
school year. b) Aside from the specified registration period, a pupil may enroll and
be admitted in accordance with the reasonable rules of the school for
late enrollment but which in no case shall exceed two weeks after the
Invalid Enrolment. Unless otherwise specially authorized by the Secretary
opening of classes.
of Education, the enrolment of any student who is under the term of
suspension/expulsion, or the enrollment of any student from a school, or c) After the 2-week above mentioned, no further enrollment will be
course without government authority shall not be valid. allowed, without prejudice however to subsequent transfer by an
enrolled student from one school to another during the school year,
provided the consent of both school is obtained.
d) A pupil or student is deemed officially enrolled after he has submitted
his appropriate admission or transfer credentials, has made an initial
payment of his school fees which has been accepted by the school,
References: and has been authorized to attend classes in school.
DepEd ORDER e) No pupil/student shall be officially enrolled unless he presents the
proper school credentials on or before the end of enrollment period
No. 88 S.2010
for the school term.
f) For purposes of enrollment, the name and other personal data and
circumstances of each pupil/student as indicated on the birth
certificate or alien registration, where applicable, shall prevail.

.
 Right to Enroll Until Graduation Special Student

Admission to any private school is open to all students who meet A special pupil/student may be admitted to a private school at any
its specific standards, requirements and regulations as expressed in printed time during the school term, without earning credits, subject to such
publications/materials. Except in cases of academic delinquency, violation of requirements and conditions as the school may prescribe. At the discretion of
school rules and regulations, the closure of the program/course of study by the school, a special student maybe exempted from class assignment and
the, or closure of the school itself, the pupil/student who qualifies for examinations.
enrollment is qualified to stay for the entire period in which he is expected to
complete his course in a school, without prejudice to his right to transfer to
other school within the prescribed period Advanced Subjects and Back Subjects
As general rule, a student shall not be permitted to take any
advanced subject until he has satisfactorily passed the prerequisite subject/s.
Admission Credentials
The transfer credentials required for the enrollment of the pupil/student in
case of transfer at the beginning of the school shall be; Subject Load and Sequence shall be in accordance with the approved
curriculum for each program/course study.
a. For admission into Grade 2-10 program, the un-cancelled report card
shall be signed by the authorized school official. The report card shall
be deemed cancelled upon the enrollment of the pupil/student in Excess Load for Graduating Student, graduating HS student maybe
subsequent grade year, and the admitting school shall immediately permitted upon the discretion of the school and additional subject load in
request for the permanent school record (F-137) from the school excess of the normal specified by the school for the year.
attended.
b. When the pupil/student is unable to present the required school record
Withholding for Credentials. The release of the transfer of credentials of
indicated, a certificate of illegibility issued by the Secretary or his
any pupil/student maybe withheld for reasons of suspension, expulsion or
duly authorized representative will be required. nonpayment of financial obligation/property responsibility of the
pupil/students to the school.
Submission of Enrollment List
Within 45 days after closed of every enrollment period, every
private school not otherwise exempted herein, shall submit to the
Schools Division Office/Regional Office concerned;
1. A list, in duplicate, of all pupils/students enrolled therein.
2. Summary of the enrollment data for the corresponding school
year/term for the various programs/courses.