Title
Framework for Goverce of Basic Education
Law
Republic Act No. 9155
Decision Date
Aug 11, 2001
A Philippine law that aims to provide free and compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the high school level, while promoting democratic consultation and shared governance in decision-making processes.

Law Summary

Declaration of Policy

  • State policy to protect and promote the right to quality basic education accessible to all.
  • Basic education is free and compulsory at the elementary level; free at high school level.
  • Includes alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult learners.
  • Aims to develop skills, knowledge, and values in learners to become productive, self-reliant, and patriotic citizens.
  • Schools are the foundation of formal education system.
  • Governance starts at national level; field offices translate policies into local programs.
  • Encourages local initiatives and community involvement in education.
  • Schools and learning centers empowered to decide on learners' best interest.

Purposes and Objectives

  • Establish governance framework with authority, accountability, and responsibility.
  • Define roles and provide resources to field offices.
  • Position schools and learning centers as vehicles for national values and learner development.
  • Ensure schools reflect community values and needs.
  • Promote local initiatives for education improvement.
  • Schools to offer comprehensive education and alternative learning equivalents.

Definition of Terms

  • Alternative Learning System: Parallel learning including non-formal and informal education.
  • Basic Education: Early childhood to high school plus alternative learning and education for those with special needs.
  • Cluster of Schools: Group of contiguous schools grouped to improve outcomes.
  • Formal Education: Structured, sequential learning requiring certification per level.
  • Informal Education: Lifelong learning from daily life experiences.
  • Integrated Schools: Complete basic education offered in one site with unified programs.
  • Learner: Any individual seeking basic literacy and functional life skills.
  • Learning Center: Venue/resources for out-of-school and adult education.
  • Learning Facilitator: Person supervising and facilitating learning.
  • Non-Formal Education: Organized learning outside formal school systems.
  • Quality Education: Education meeting the needs of individuals and society.
  • School: Educational institution for defined age groups, private or public.
  • School Head: Person managing administration and instruction.

Principles of Shared Governance

  • Recognizes specific roles and accountabilities at all levels in the education bureaucracy.
  • Decision-making involves democratic consultation and feedback.
  • Emphasizes accountability and transparency.
  • Strengthens communication channels with other government agencies and stakeholders.

Governance

  • Department of Education, Culture, and Sports renamed Department of Education (DepEd).
  • DepEd vested with authority and accountability for access, equity, and quality in basic education.
  • Arts, culture, and sports governed as provided elsewhere.

Powers, Duties, and Functions

  • Secretary of Education exercises overall authority and supervision.

National Level:

  • Formulate policies, plans, and standards; monitor learning outcomes; conduct research.
  • Enhance employment status, competence, and welfare of personnel.
  • Develop learner programs/projects.
  • Assisted by undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, some from career service.

Regional Level:

  • Regional directors oversee policy frameworks, plans, standards, monitoring, research, personnel management.
  • Coordinate budget and staffing of divisions/districts.
  • Approve school and learning center establishments.

Division Level:

  • Schools division superintendents manage education development plans.
  • Oversee personnel, resource management, school supervision, fund utilization, and standard compliance.

Schools District Level:

  • Schools district supervisors provide professional and instructional support to schools and learning centers.

School Level:

  • School heads lead mission, curriculum implementation, resource management.
  • Manage school improvement and community relations.
  • Responsible for accepting and reporting donations for school improvement.
  • Promotions based on qualifications, merit, and performance.
  • Appointment of key officials requires career executive service status.

Transfer of Cultural Agencies

  • Cultural bodies (e.g., Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute) attached to National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
  • Arts and culture programs remain part of the school curriculum.

Abolition of the Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports

  • All sports competition functions transferred to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
  • School sports and physical fitness programs remain in basic education curriculum.
  • BPESS abolished; personnel detailed with PSC transferred accordingly.

Support and Assistance of Other Government Agencies

  • Joint guidelines by DepEd and Department of Budget and Management for resource allocation to field offices.
  • Ensure adequate, timely resources for personnel, supplies, and materials.
  • Appropriate personnel policies to address unique teaching service conditions.
  • Commission on Audit to consider organizational and operational characteristics in audit regulations.

Governance in ARMM

  • Regional Education Secretary for ARMM exercises similar governance consistent with ARMM Organic Act and Republic Act No. 9054.

Rules and Regulations

  • Secretary of Education to promulgate implementing rules within 90 days.
  • Full implementation of shared governance principle mandated within 2 years.

Separability Clause

  • Constitutional invalidity of any provision does not affect the remainder of the law.

Repealing Clause

  • Laws, decrees, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.

Effectivity Clause

  • The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

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