Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State policy aligns with Millennium Development Goals to achieve Education for All by 2015.
- Guarantees equal access to mandatory and compulsory kindergarten education.
- Kindergarten education promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and skills development preparing children for elementary schooling.
- Kindergarten is institutionalized as the first stage of compulsory formal education.
- Education must be learner-oriented and culturally responsive using appropriate languages.
Definition of Terms
- DepEd: Department of Education.
- BEE: Bureau of Elementary Education.
- Kindergarten education: One year of preparatory education for children at least five years old prior to Grade 1.
- Mother tongue: The language first learned by the child.
Institutionalization of Kindergarten Education
- Kindergarten is part of the basic education system.
- Partial implementation began in the 2011-2012 school year.
- Kindergarten is mandatory and compulsory for Grade 1 entrance thereafter.
Medium of Instruction
- Adoption of mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE).
- Mother tongue is the primary language for instruction at kindergarten level.
- Exceptions apply when:
- Learners have diverse mother tongues.
- Teacher does not speak learners' mother tongue.
- Appropriate resources/materials unavailable.
- Teachers not trained in MTB-MLE.
- DepEd determines alternate instruction medium aligned with elementary education.
- DepEd collaborates with Commission on Filipino Language and academic institutions to develop MTB-MLE framework.
- Teaching strategies include phased English language introduction.
Implementing Agency
- DepEd is the authority regulating kindergarten education for public and private schools.
- Creation of a new Division under BEE for implementation.
- Responsibilities include increasing kindergarten teacher positions, enhancing teacher training, and providing resources (classrooms, equipment, textbooks).
Duties, Powers and Functions of DepEd (through BEE)
- Oversee and supervise kindergarten program organization and implementation.
- Develop and periodically review curriculum consistent with global standards and values formation.
- Utilize MTB-MLE in teaching.
- Develop teaching strategies incorporating:
- Two-track method (storytelling, reading, listening).
- Interactive strategies, manipulative games.
- Experiential learning, small groups, total physical response (TPR).
- Produce learning development materials (listening stories, small and big books, primer lessons, lesson exemplars).
- Establish continuing professional development programs for kindergarten teachers.
- Prescribe teacher qualifications and accreditation procedures.
- Regulate private kindergarten institutions.
- Supervise various early childhood education venues (institution-, home-, hospital-, community-based).
- Promote innovative kindergarten programs including educational technologies.
Appropriations
- DepEd to fund operationalization of free, mandatory, compulsory public kindergarten with current appropriations.
- Future funding charged to the General Fund and included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DepEd to promulgate necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the Act's effectivity.
- Consultation with Department of Budget and Management required.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest of the Act's provisions.
Repealing Clause
- Conflicting laws, decrees, or regulations are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity Clause
- The Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers of general circulation.