QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 6655)
RA No. 6655 is the “Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988,” and it provides for free public secondary education and related purposes.
To provide free public secondary education to all qualified citizens and to promote quality education at all levels.
Students enrolled in secondary course offerings in covered public institutions are free from payment of tuition and other school fees, subject to the exceptions on membership-related fees.
Tuition fee represents direct costs of instruction/training and use of instruction facilities, while other school fees cover necessary supportive costs such as medical/dental, athletic, library, laboratory, and CAT fees.
Fees related to membership in the school community such as identification cards, student organizations, and publications may be collected.
No. The law states that nonpayment of these membership-related fees shall not in any case be a bar to enrollment or graduation.
It commences in School Year 1988–1989.
National high schools, general comprehensive high schools, state colleges and universities, specialized schools, trade/technical/vocational/fishery/agricultural schools, and schools established/maintained/funded by LGUs (including barangay, municipal, provincial, city high schools), and public high schools established by law.
No. Section 4 provides that nothing in the Act shall cause or authorize reduction or removal of any benefit granted by national or local governments to students, teachers, and other school personnel prior to the Act.
The curriculum must upgrade quality, efficiency, and access, provide general skills/knowledge/values, and include vocational and technical courses that give students gainful employment.
A student’s right terminates if the student fails for two (2) consecutive school years in the majority of the academic subjects enrolled, unless failure is due to a valid cause.
It applies when facilities in the same municipality cannot accommodate all applicants; graduates of public elementary schools in that municipality are given priority.
The establishment, renaming, conversion, integration, separation, administration, supervision, control of all public secondary schools and public secondary school teachers and other personnel, including payment of salaries/allowances/fringe benefits (including those already provided by LGUs), are vested in the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.
The President may realign/transfer appropriation items within the Department of Education, Culture and Sports or utilize savings, and any additional needed amount shall be included in the General Appropriations Acts for ensuing fiscal years.
It takes effect upon its approval.
All laws or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of RA 6655 are deemed repealed or modified as the case may be.