REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2047

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Terry L. Ridon

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

It is a truism that learning should not be confined within the four walls of the
classroom. Even the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes this as Article 14, section 2
provides that the State shall encourage nonformal, informal and indigenous learning system,
as well as self-learning independent, and out-of-school study programmes particularly those
that respond to community needs. Students should not only learn through formal
learning instruction and textbooks, but also through immersion into the larger society
that exists beyond their private lives,

Pursuant to the foregoing, we now file a bill to institutionalize student-led
alternative classes in secondary and tertiary educational institutions at least once a
semester or term.

The bill was inspired by the student council-led activity in UP Diliman called the
Alternative Classroom Learning Experience or ACLE. The ACLE is a one-day
alternative classes festival organized by the student council and participated in by
student organizations who invite speakers, conduct trainings, and similar activities.
The ACLE aims to educate the students with additional learning not usually taught
within the classroom- a radical departure from the academic-based curriculum of
schools. It is a venue wherein the students are given the opportunity to earn various
skills and knowledge through thematic fora, symposia, film showings, and workshops.
With its success in UP Diliman, the ACLE has since then been institutionalized in
other UP campuses.

Alternative classroom activities are also held in other schools such as Ateneo
de Manila High School (KLIK or Klaseng Ibang Klase ), University of Santo Tomas,
and Polytechnic University of the Philippines

During the 3rd National Youth Parliament of the National Youth Commission,
the delegates approved a resolution urging the Commission on Higher Education to
institutionalize the ACLE to alll universities and colleges.

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The Alternative Classes bill was originally filed under the 15th Congress by
then Kabataan Representative Raymond V. Palatino. In our commitment to holistic
development of the youth, we refile it under the present Congress, and urge the
House of Representatives to see through the passage of the bill

ION. T. Ri
Representative, Kabataan Party-list,


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2047

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Terry L. Ridon

‘AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCE
(ACLE) PROGRAM TO ALL SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1 . Short Title, ~ This act shall be known as the “Alternative Classes Act”

SECTION 2 . Alternative Classroom Leaming Experience. - The Alternative
Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) Program is a studentled and -organized activity
that fosters academic freedom inside our nation's campuses. It aims to provide students with
alternative viewpoints, perspectives, ideas, and concepts not usually discussed through
formal learning instruction and not usually found in textbooks and official educational
materials. Activities related to the ACLE Program shall include but not limited to the
following: workshops, educational discussions, training, fora, symposia, film showing and/or
audio-visual presentations, lectures.

SECTION 3 . All secondary and tertiary educational institutions are mandated to
conduct an Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) activity at least once every
semester or term, as the case may be. Student councils or student governments shall be
primarily in charge of organizing the said activity, School administrations shall provide the
necessary assistance to the student body to carry out the aim of this activity,

SECTION 4 . Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The Department of Education
and the Commission on Higher Education, in coordination with youth groups and
organizations, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to enforce the objectives.
of this Act.


1 SECTION 5 . Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the

2 completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
3 circulation.

Approved,