Policy and purpose of kindergarten education
- The State adopts the policy of providing equal opportunities for all children to avail of accessible mandatory and compulsory kindergarten education.
- The State requires kindergarten education to effectively promote physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and skills stimulation and values formation to prepare children for formal elementary schooling.
- Kindergarten education is instituted as the first stage of compulsory and mandatory formal education, making it an integral part of the basic education system.
- The Act declares that education must be learner-oriented and responsive to the needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, circumstances, and diversity of learners, schools, and communities through the appropriate languages of teaching and learning.
- Section 2 anchors kindergarten’s academic and technical value as the period when a child’s learning capacity is at its sharpest.
Key definitions established by law
- Section 3(a) defines “DepEd” as the Department of Education.
- Section 3(b) defines “BEE” as the Bureau of Elementary Education.
- Section 3(c) defines “Kindergarten education” as one (1) year of preparatory education for children at least five (5) years old as a prerequisite for Grade I.
- Section 3(d) defines “Mother tongue” as the language first learned by a child.
Institutionalization and compulsory coverage timeline
- Kindergarten education is institutionalized as part of basic education.
- For school year 2011-2012, kindergarten education is implemented partially.
- Thereafter, kindergarten education becomes mandatory and compulsory for entrance to Grade 1.
- Section 4 establishes that kindergarten is implemented through the basic education system as the qualifying preparatory stage.
Medium of instruction: MTB-MLE rules
- The State adopts mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) as the medium of instruction for kindergarten.
- The learner’s mother tongue is the primary medium of instruction for teaching and learning in kindergarten.
- Exceptions apply when:
- pupils in a kindergarten classroom have different mother tongues or some speak another mother tongue;
- the teacher does not speak the mother tongue of the learners;
- resources aligned with mother tongue use are not yet available; and
- teachers are not yet trained to use the MTB-MLE program.
- In exceptional cases, the primary medium of instruction is determined by DepEd aligned with the framework used in the elementary level, including teacher training and production of local resources and materials under DepEd Order No. 74, series of 2009.
- The DepEd, in coordination with the Commission on Filipino Language and in close collaboration with academic and research institutions concerned with education, must formulate a mother tongue-based multilingual framework for teaching and learning.
- The framework must include teaching strategies under Section 7(c) aimed to introduce and eventually strengthen the child’s understanding of English, the official language.
Implementing agency and program authority
- DepEd, through the BEE, regulates the organization, operation, and/or implementation of the kindergarten education program in both public and private schools.
- Section 6 requires the creation of a new Division under the BEE and other necessary support to implement kindergarten education.
- Support includes increasing the number of kindergarten teacher positions with the required salaries and benefits.
- Support includes enhancing teacher training in early education and providing allocations for classrooms and chairs, facilities and equipment, and textbooks.
- The implementing authority covers kindergarten education for public and private schools.
DepEd/BEE duties, curriculum, and teacher development
- Section 7 vests the DepEd through the BEE with the duty to:
- oversee and supervise the organization, operation, and implementation of the kindergarten education program;
- develop a kindergarten curriculum consistent with universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation, all developmentally appropriate, and including the use of MTB-MLE; and
- periodically review and upgrade the curriculum.
- The Act requires DepEd/BEE to develop teaching strategies using the unique feature of MTB-MLE, including:
- the two-track method (storytelling and reading; listening story; oral communication activities);
- interactive strategies;
- use of manipulative games; and
- experiential, small group discussions and total physical response (TPR) among others.
- Section 7 mandates that learning development materials consist of at the minimum:
- Listening story;
- Small books;
- Big books;
- Experience story;
- Primer lessons; and
- Lessons exemplars.
- The DepEd/BEE must conceive, develop, and extend a continuing professional development program for kindergarten teachers to ensure constant updating on early childhood education trends, pedagogy, methodologies, and concepts.
- The DepEd/BEE must prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation of teachers who will handle the kindergarten education program.
- The DepEd/BEE exercises authority over the operation of private kindergarten institutions.
- The DepEd/BEE must supervise the establishment of early childhood education venues that may be institution-based, home-based, hospital-based, or community-based, and that must be duly accredited by the DepEd.
- The DepEd/BEE must introduce innovative kindergarten programs that include educational technologies whenever applicable.
Funding and appropriations for free kindergarten
- The DepEd must immediately include in its program the operationalization of the free, mandatory and compulsory public kindergarten education.
- The initial funding is charged against the DepEd’s current appropriations for kindergarten education.
- After initial funding, necessary sums for continued implementation of the free public kindergarten education program are charged to the General Fund and included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
- Section 8 establishes that funding for continued implementation is routed through the General Fund and annual appropriations.
Implementing rules and regulations timeline
- Within ninety (90) days after effectivity, the DepEd must promulgate the rules and regulations needed to implement the Act.
- DepEd must consult the Department of Budget and Management when promulgating the implementing rules.
Separability, repealing, and modification of inconsistent laws
- If any provision of Republic Act No. 10157 is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions remain valid and effective under Section 10.
- Pertinent provisions of all other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations that are contrary to or inconsistent with Republic Act No. 10157 are repealed or modified accordingly under Section 11.