Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- Aligns with the Millennium Development Goals for Education for All by 2015.
- Ensures equal opportunity for accessible, mandatory, compulsory kindergarten education.
- Promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional, skill development, and values formation.
- Kindergarten is part of the basic education system and the first formal education stage.
- Emphasizes learner-oriented education responsive to diverse learners and local circumstances.
Definition of Terms
- "DepEd" means Department of Education.
- "BEE" means Bureau of Elementary Education.
- "Kindergarten education" means one year of preparatory education for children at least five years old.
- "Mother tongue" means the first language learned by a child.
Institutionalization of Kindergarten Education
- Kindergarten education institutionalized as part of basic education.
- Partial implementation started in school year 2011-2012.
- Mandatory and compulsory for Grade 1 entrance thereafter.
Medium of Instruction
- Adoption of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE).
- Learner’s mother tongue is the primary medium of instruction.
- Exceptions when learners have different mother tongues, teacher’s language skill, lack of resources, or teacher training.
- In exceptional cases, DepEd determines the medium of instruction aligned with elementary education framework.
- DepEd to collaborate with language and academic institutions to develop MTB-MLE framework including English teaching strategies.
Implementing Agency
- DepEd vested with authority to regulate kindergarten education in public and private schools.
- Creation of a new Division under BEE to implement kindergarten education.
- Increase kindergarten teacher positions with appropriate benefits.
- Enhance teacher training, and provide classrooms, facilities, equipment, and textbooks.
Duties, Powers and Functions
- Oversee and supervise kindergarten education programs.
- Develop and periodically review kindergarten curriculum consistent with accepted norms and values formation.
- Develop MTB-MLE teaching strategies including storytelling, interactive strategies, manipulative games, experiential learning, and physical responses.
- Provide diverse learning materials like listening stories, small and big books, primers, and lesson exemplars.
- Develop continuing professional development programs for kindergarten teachers.
- Set qualifications for hiring and accrediting kindergarten teachers.
- Exercise authority over private kindergarten institutions.
- Supervise early childhood education venues, ensuring accreditation.
- Introduce innovative programs including educational technologies.
Appropriations
- Immediate inclusion of free mandatory kindergarten education in DepEd’s program.
- Initial funding from current DepEd appropriations.
- Ongoing funding to come from the General Fund included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DepEd to promulgate necessary rules and regulations within ninety days from law’s effectivity.
- Consultation with Department of Budget and Management required.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
Repealing Clause
- Laws, decrees, executive orders, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified.
Effectivity Clause
- The Act takes effect fifteen days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.