THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators, the biggest association of private schools in the country, will seek a seat at the House of Representatives in next year’s national elections.

FAPSA president Eleazardo Kasilag has filed a party-list application before the Commission on Elections.

“FAPSA has to metamorph and create change, we need to break some rules and challenge the norm to exist in the academic field to stay afloat as 865 private schools closed this year,” Kasilag said.

“This is in recognition of the endless clamor of member schools since the government has remained unmindful of the sordid condition of our teachers and school owners,” he added.

According to him, FAPSA was forced to join the political fray because most of the reforms that the group is pushing needs legislation.

“FAPSA does not have the political machinery and we are greenhorn but we hope our entrance shall emulate honest dealing bereft of the usual corruption normally heard among traditional politicians,” Kasilag said.

“This political somersault FAPSA has to embrace for we cannot bear to see private schools teachers beg in the streets. We are meeting now for this party-list representation,” he added.

He lamented that private schools have become marginalized, with only 2 million students enrolling in school year 2020-2021 compared to the 4.3 million enrollees the previous year.

“Even more alarming are more schools folding up this coming school year 2021-2022,” Kasilag said.

“Students continue to migrate to free public education and teachers transfer from private schools for higher pay in the government schools,” he added.