Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7797)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 7797 is to lengthen the school calendar from two hundred (200) days to not more than two hundred twenty (220) class days starting from the school year 1995-1996.
The school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.
No, the increase in the number of school days shall not be considered as a basis for additional pay for teachers who receive salaries for the entire twelve (12) months. This does not apply to those paid by actual hours taught or whose salaries and work hours are governed by Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Section 2 of RA 7797 provides that the total number of class hours per day shall not be reduced to compensate for the increase in class days.
Yes, the Secretary of Education, Culture, and Sports may authorize holding Saturday classes for elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools.
The Secretary of Education, Culture, and Sports must issue the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the approval of RA 7797.
The DECS must submit copies of the implementing rules and guidelines to the Committees on Education, Arts, and Culture of both Houses of Congress within thirty (30) days after their promulgation.
Yes, Section 5 states that all laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with RA 7797 are repealed or modified accordingly.
This Act took effect upon its approval on August 25, 1994.
The 220 class days include class days that may be subsequently suspended due to natural or man-made calamities.