Law Summary
Definition of Key Terms
- Free Public Secondary Education: Education in public secondary schools free from tuition and other school fees as described above.
- Tuition Fee: Fees representing direct costs of instruction, training, and use of facilities.
- Other School Fees: Fees supporting instruction such as medical, dental, athletic, library, laboratory, and Citizens Army Training (CAT); excludes voluntary membership fees as stated.
Policy Declaration and Implementation
- Established as State policy to provide free public secondary education to all qualified citizens.
- Emphasizes promoting quality education at all levels.
- Effective starting School Year 1988-1989.
- Ensures that no benefits granted to students or school personnel prior to the Act's enactment shall be reduced or removed.
Curriculum Formulation
- The Department of Education, Culture and Sports is mandated to formulate the secondary education curriculum.
- Curriculum aims to upgrade quality, efficiency, and access.
- Must include vocational and technical courses promoting gainful employment alongside general skills and values.
Limitations on the Right to Free Education
- The right to free secondary education terminates if a student fails for two consecutive years in the majority of enrolled subjects, unless failure is due to valid cause.
Nationalization and Administration of Public Secondary Schools
- Authority over establishment, renaming, conversion, integration, separation, supervision, and control of public secondary schools is vested in the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.
- Includes administration of public secondary school teachers and personnel, including salaries and benefits.
- Consolidates control from local governments to the national Department.
Admission Priority
- Graduates of public elementary schools in a municipality are given priority for admission to public high schools when facilities are insufficient for all applicants within the same municipality.
Rules, Regulations, and Funding
- The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports is responsible for issuing implementing rules and regulations.
- The President is authorized to realign or transfer appropriations within the Department for implementation.
- Additional funding requirements are to be included in the General Appropriations Acts for subsequent fiscal years.
Repealing and Effectivity Provisions
- Laws inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval on May 26, 1988.