QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7797)
RA 7797 lengthens the school calendar for each year beginning School Year 1995–1996 to not more than 220 class days, inclusive of class days that may be subsequently suspended due to natural or man-made calamities (from 200 class days).
RA 7797 provides that the school calendar shall be lengthened to not more than 220 class days—so 220 is a ceiling (maximum), not an exact required number.
Yes. The law states that the 220 class days are inclusive of class days which may be subsequently suspended due to natural or man-made calamities.
No. The law expressly provides that the increase in the number of school days shall not be considered as a basis for additional pay for teachers whose salaries are paid for the entire 12 months.
The prohibition on additional pay does not apply to teachers whose salaries are computed by the number of hours they actually teach, or whose salaries and hours of work are governed by existing Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The total number of class hours per day provided under the present system shall not be reduced to compensate for the increase in class days.
The school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.
The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (now effectively the DepEd Secretary) determines the end of the regular school year, considering Christmas and summer vacations and the peculiar circumstances of each region.
Yes. The Secretary may authorize holding of Saturday classes for elementary and secondary levels for public and private schools.
The DECS must submit to the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture of both Houses of Congress copies of the implementing rules and guidelines within thirty (30) days after their promulgation.
All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with RA 7797 are repealed or modified accordingly.
It takes effect upon its approval (approved August 25, 1994).
Section 4 directs the Secretary to ensure that the total class days prescribed are devoted to the attainment of learning objectives through the issuance of rules and regulations.
It means RA 7797 overrides conflicting legal provisions so that the 220-class-day rule applies despite any earlier laws to the contrary.