Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State policy to protect and promote the right to quality basic education.
- Free and compulsory elementary education; free high school education.
- Includes alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adults.
- Basic education aims to develop skills, knowledge, values for productive citizenship.
- Schools are essential centers of formal education.
- Governance begins at the national level and is implemented regionally and locally.
- Encouragement of local initiatives and empowerment of schools to make decisions.
- Educational programs must reflect the values and needs of the school community.
Purposes and Objectives
- Establish governance framework for basic education policies, standards, authority, accountability.
- Define roles and provide resources to field offices implementing programs locally.
- Schools as primary vehicle for teaching national values and patriotism.
- Ensure focused attention and community interests in educational programs.
- Allow flexibility for teachers and staff to serve all learners.
- Encourage local improvements and sustain educational quality.
- Establish schools/centers to provide elementary, high school, and alternative learning paths.
Definition of Terms
- Alternative Learning System: Non-formal and informal educational activities.
- Basic Education: Early childhood, elementary, high school, and alternative learning.
- Cluster of Schools: Geographically grouped schools to improve outcomes.
- Formal Education: Structured sequential learning with certification.
- Informal Education: Lifelong learning from daily experiences.
- Integrated Schools: Schools offering complete basic education in one site.
- Learner: Individual seeking literacy, life skills, or support.
- Learning Center: Venue for out-of-school youth/adult learning programs.
- Learning Facilitator: Person supervising/facilitating learner activities.
- Non-Formal Education: Organized education outside formal system.
- Quality Education: Education that meets individual and societal needs.
- School: Educational institution providing instruction to specific age groups.
- School Head: Administrator and instructional supervisor of a school or cluster.
Principles of Shared Governance
- Recognizes distinct roles and accountability at each educational level.
- Democratic consultation and feedback mechanisms are required.
- Emphasizes accountability and transparency at all levels.
- Strengthening communication channels and linkages with government and NGOs.
Governance Structure
- Renames Department of Education, Culture and Sports as Department of Education (DepEd).
- DepEd responsible for access, equity, and quality in basic education.
- Arts, culture, and sports addressed separately in other provisions.
Powers, Duties, and Functions
- Secretary of Education exercises overall authority and supervises DepEd operations.
- National Level Responsibilities include policy formulation, standards, research, personnel welfare, and learner development.
- Regional Offices headed by Regional Director who manages policy adaptation, plans, standards, staff recruitment, funding, compliance, and reporting.
- Divisions led by Schools Division Superintendent responsible for divisional education plans, staff management, fund monitoring, compliance with quality standards, and school supervision.
- Schools District Supervisors provide professional and instructional support, curricula supervision.
- School Heads manage individual schools or clusters including vision setting, curriculum implementation, resource management, staff development, community engagement, and fundraising with transparency.
- Promotions boards established for supervisory and school head positions; career-based appointments emphasized.
Transfer of Cultural Agencies
- Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office and National Library transferred to National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
- School arts and culture programs remain part of the curriculum.
Abolition of Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS)
- Sports competition functions transferred to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
- School sports and physical fitness programs remain in basic education curriculum.
- BPESS abolished; personnel detailed to PSC without loss of rank; others retained by DepEd.
Support and Assistance of Other Government Agencies
- Secretary of Education and Secretary of Budget and Management to issue guidelines for resource allocation to field offices.
- Emphasis on adequate and direct allocation of resources for personnel, materials, and infrastructure.
- Personnel policies tailored to teaching profession's unique demands.
- Commission on Audit to consider distinct features of DepEd operations in audit rules.
Governance in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
- Regional Education Secretary of ARMM exercises governance similar to other regions.
- Governance subject to Organic Act provisions and Republic Act No. 9054.
Rules and Regulations
- Secretary of Education to issue implementing rules within 90 days of enactment.
- Full implementation of shared governance principle expected within two years.
Separability Clause
- Unconstitutional provisions do not affect validity of remaining provisions.
Repealing Clause
- Inconsistent laws, decrees, or rules repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity Clause
- Law takes effect 15 days after publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.