Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9155)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9155 is the "Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001."
The policy of the State is to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic education, making such education accessible to all by providing free and compulsory education at the elementary level and free education at the high school level, including alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult learners.
The Act aims to provide a framework for the governance of basic education, define roles and responsibilities of field offices, make schools and learning centers vehicles for values education, ensure focused attention to schools, enable local reflection of community values in education, encourage local initiatives, and establish schools as facilities for core competencies or alternative learning programs.
Alternative Learning System is a parallel learning system providing a viable alternative to formal education, encompassing both non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.
The Secretary of the Department of Education exercises overall authority and supervision over the operations of the Department.
Responsibilities include defining regional educational policy frameworks, developing regional basic education plans and standards, monitoring regional learning outcomes, undertaking research, ensuring recruitment and training compliance, budgeting, managing organization and staff, and approving establishment of schools and learning centers.
The superintendent develops and implements division education plans, manages personnel and resources, hires and evaluates staff, monitors fund utilization, ensures compliance with quality standards, promotes accreditation adherence, supervises school operations, and performs other assigned functions.
School heads set the mission and goals, create conducive learning environments, implement curricula, develop school improvement plans, manage resources and personnel, recommend staffing, encourage staff development, build community networks, accept donations for school improvement, and perform other functions.
The cultural agencies Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office, and National Library are attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) is abolished, and its functions are transferred to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The Secretary of Education shall promulgate implementing rules within ninety (90) days after approval of the Act and fully implement the principle of shared governance within two (2) years after approval.