Declaration of Policy
- Establishes a complete, adequate, integrated education system relevant to people and society's needs.
- Aims for graduates to be empowered individuals with lifelong learning, productivity, harmony, critical thinking, and transformative capability.
- Focuses on a functional basic education system developing productive, responsible citizens.
- Ensures quality, globally competitive, learner-oriented education sensitive to cognitive, cultural diversity.
Basic Education Definition
- Covers kindergarten, elementary, secondary education, and alternative learning systems for out-of-school or special needs learners.
Enhanced Basic Education Program Structure
- Composed of 1-year kindergarten, 6-year elementary, and 6-year secondary education (split into 4-year junior high school and 2-year senior high school).
- Kindergarten for children at least 5 years old; elementary starts typically at 6 years; junior and senior high at 12 and 16 years respectively.
- Instruction uses mother tongue for kindergarten and first 3 years of elementary; Filipino and English gradually introduced up to secondary level.
- Defines mother tongue and regional/native languages including Filipino sign language.
Curriculum Development
- Department of Education (DepED) designs curriculum, coordinates with Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
- Consultations with government agencies and stakeholders such as DOLE, PRC, private and public school groups, and others.
- Curriculum principles: learner-centered, inclusive, relevant, culture-sensitive, contextualized, global, constructivist pedagogy, MTB-MLE approach, spiral progression, and flexible for localization.
- Encourages locally produced teaching materials with regional approval.
Curriculum Consultative Committee
- Created to oversee curriculum review and evaluation; chaired by DepED Secretary or representative.
- Includes members from CHED, TESDA, DOLE, PRC, DOST, and business sector.
- Recommends refinements in the curriculum implementation.
Teacher Education and Training
- DepED and CHED conduct in-service training for teachers and school leaders.
- Retraining for current teachers, training for new teachers to match new curriculum standards.
- Training for school leaders (principals, coordinators) on academic and administrative roles.
- Professional development programs conducted regularly.
Hiring of Specialist Graduates
- DepED and private institutions may hire science, math, engineering, music graduates with LET shortages.
- Provision for hiring technical-vocational graduates with TESDA certification.
- Higher Education Institution faculty may teach relevant secondary subjects.
- Practitioners may teach part-time in specialized areas.
- Qualification standards determined through government coordination.
Career Guidance and Counseling
- DepED coordinated with DOLE, TESDA, CHED conducts regular career advocacy for secondary students.
- Non-registered guidance counselors allowed to conduct career advocacy if trained and employed by the school.
Expansion of Government Assistance (E-GASTPE)
- Extends benefits of RA 8545 to students under enhanced basic education.
- DepED to engage private and non-DepED schools offering senior high school through public-private partnership arrangements.
Appropriations
- Initial funding from DepED current appropriations.
- Continuous allocation included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Transitory Provisions
- DepED, CHED, TESDA to formulate strategies for smooth transition from 10-year to K to 12 cycle.
- Transition includes infrastructure, manpower, curricula alignment, and partnerships.
- Modeling senior high school in selected schools for data and transition planning.
- Partnerships with higher education and technical vocational institutions to manage enrollment shifts.
- Priority hiring of HEI and TVI faculty for secondary education during transition.
- Transition period provided in implementing rules.
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
- Created with 5 members each from Senate and House, including committee chairs on Education, Arts and Culture, Finance.
- Includes minority members to oversee, monitor, and evaluate law implementation.
Mandatory Evaluation and Review
- By end of School Year 2014-2015, DepED must review shortages (teachers, classrooms, textbooks, seats, toilets, other resources).
- Midterm report to Congress including key education metrics (participation, retention, achievement test results, completion, teacher welfare/training, funding adequacy, facilities).
Commitment to International Benchmarks
- DepED to increase per capita education spending to meet international standards promptly.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DepED Secretary, CHED Chairperson, TESDA Director-General to issue implementing rules within 90 days of law effectivity.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity or unconstitutionality of a provision does not affect the rest of the law.
Repealing Clause
- Conflicting provisions in prior laws (Batas Pambansa Blg. 232, RA 9155, RA 9258, RA 7836) repealed or modified.
Effectivity Clause
- Law takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers of general circulation.