QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10410)
It is known as the “Early Years Act (EYA) of 2013.”
It recognizes the age from zero (0) to eight (8) years as the first crucial stage. The age 0–4 is the responsibility of the ECCD Council, while age 5–8 (transitioning toward kindergarten/formal learning) is with the Department of Education (DepEd).
To institutionalize a National System for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative, sustainable, and involves multisectoral and interagency collaboration at national and local levels among government, service providers, families/communities, and public/private sectors.
Examples: (1) improve infant/child survival rates through accessible health and nutrition programs; (2) enhance physical-motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, language, psychological and spiritual development; (3) facilitate smooth transition to community/school-based settings and kindergarten; (4) early identification/referral/intervention for special needs (especially 0–4).
As the full range of health, nutrition, early education and social services development programs providing for the basic holistic needs and optimum growth/development of young children from age 0 to 4.
Center-based programs and home-based programs.
They include professionals, paraprofessionals and volunteer caregivers directly responsible for care/education of children age 0–4 through centers and home-based programs.
Developmentally appropriate educational objectives/practices, organized learning experiences, recommended materials and assessment for children 0–4; it includes national program goals/guidelines, instructional objectives, and age-appropriate, individually appropriate, culturally relevant content.
It shall use the child’s first language as the medium of instruction.
DepEd, DSWD, DOH, National Nutrition Council (NNC), and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).
LGUs may allocate from their Special Education Fund (SEF) and Gender and Development (GAD) Fund and other local funds to support ECCD implementation; organize/support parent cooperatives; provide counterpart funds for continuing professional development; and provide facilities for conducting the ECCD program.
It is attached to the DepEd. The purpose is to ensure the state focus on children’s development/learning in the early years (0–4) and to support holistic health/nutrition/early education/social development through sustained interagency and multisectoral collaboration.
Members include: Secretary of DepEd (ex officio Chairperson), Executive Director of the ECCD Council (Vice Chairperson), and the Secretaries of DSWD and DOH, Executive Director of the NNC, President of ULAP, and one private ECCD practitioner/expert appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Board.
It must develop a national system for recruitment, registration, accreditation, continuing education, equivalency, and credentialing of ECCD service providers, supervisors, and administrators to improve and professionalize the ECCD sector and upgrade quality of public/private ECCD programs.
PAGCOR must contribute P500,000,000.00 per year for five (5) years from gross income to fund establishment of National Child Development Centers and conversion of existing Day Care Centers into Child Development Centers in various LGUs, upon approval of the Act.
ECCD programs are financed through a combination of public and private funds; all public providers must prioritize children aged 0–4 from families in greatest need who can least afford private ECCD programs.
It repeals Republic Act No. 8980. Effectivity: fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.