Law Summary
Definition of Barrio High School
- Applies to high schools established in the barrios (rural villages) of the Philippines.
- Excludes high schools maintained by Bureau of Public Schools, Bureau of Vocational Education, private high schools, and laboratory high schools of State Universities and Colleges.
- Must offer the standard secondary course prescribed by the Department of Education.
Organization Requirements
- Barrio high schools may be organized upon initiative of the barrio council.
- Requires at least forty students available to form a class.
Role of Barrio Council
- Duty to initiate organization upon receipt of a petition signed by parents of at least forty eligible students.
- Submit petition and approval resolution to the Superintendent of Schools for recommendation.
- Permits two or more barrios to jointly establish a barrio high school with expenses proportionally shared.
Administration and Supervision
- Secretary of Education, through Director of Public Schools, authorizes opening and closure of barrio high schools.
- Superintendent of Schools exercises administration and supervision.
- Principal of the nearest complete public high school directly administers the barrio high school.
- Barrio councils manage and safeguard funds, ensuring proper budget disbursement.
- Funds deposited with municipal treasurer; bonding required for barrio treasurer.
- For multisector barrio high schools, fund procedures determined by Auditor General.
Liability of Barrios
- Barrios are responsible for all claims arising from operation.
- Joint and several liability if multiple barrios involved.
Financing Sources
- Primarily supported by student tuition fees, not exceeding provincial high school rates.
- Secondary funding from:
- Five percent of real estate tax collected within the barrio, allocated exclusively for instruction improvement.
- A special trust fund from national appropriations managed by Secretary of Education.
Teacher Qualifications and Staffing
- Teachers must meet qualifications equivalent to regular public high schools.
- At least one full-time qualified teacher required.
- Part-time teaching by qualified elementary school teachers allowed with Superintendent approval.
Compensation
- Full-time teachers receive salaries equal to counterparts in public high schools.
- Honoraria for part-time teachers regulated by Secretary of Education.
- Part-time teachers limited to two classroom periods per day.
- Additional honoraria for public school staff assigned to barrio high schools authorized.
Curriculum
- An integrated curriculum of academic and vocational subjects.
- The ratio depends on community needs.
- Vocational courses are terminal each year.
Location Restrictions and Resource Sharing
- New barrio high schools cannot open in poblacion or within 3 kilometers of existing high schools, with exceptions allowed by Secretary of Education.
- Authorization for practical use of elementary school tools and materials by barrio high schools.
Use of Existing Facilities
- Bureau of Public Schools and Bureau of Vocational Education must allow barrio high schools to use unused existing facilities.
Review of Ordinances
- Barrio council ordinances on barrio high schools subject to review by city or municipal council.
- Failure to act within 15 days constitutes approval.
- Disputes resolved by provincial or city fiscal.
Rulemaking Authority
- Secretary of Education mandated to promulgate necessary rules and regulations.
- Covers tuition costs, sharing of facilities/personnel, accreditation, student transfers, and grounds for closure.
- Requires notice and reasonable time for barrio council before school closure.
Repealing Clause
- Laws or regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
Scope of Applicability
- Covers all barrio high schools.
- Existing schools given reasonable time to comply with the Act.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest of the Act.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect upon approval on August 4, 1969.