Repubiic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1524

introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The best safeguard to our democratic political system is an enlightened citizenry
who cannot be cowed nor dictated upon.

These are the citizens who would fight for their right to a better life; who would
struggie individually and collectively to develop the country’s economy and make it
globally competitive.

These are the citizens who would farm and manufacture, manage businesses,
build and lead organizations, run the government and uphold the country’s
independence.

These are the citizens our laws must serve and protect. These are the citizens
whose right to education the State must guarantee.

Among these citizens are the underprivileged out-school-youth and adults who
have graduated from the elementary but are unable to go to high school because of
geographic and socio-economic constraints

Many children of high school age are out of school because they have to stay at
home during school hours to take care of younger siblings and do household chores to
allow their parents and elders to eam a living. Others are prevented from attending
classes regularly because they live far from the high school. In the case of youthful
offenders, they cannot attend conventional classes because they are detained in
correctional institutions.

There are also the youth whose secondary education is hampered by armed
conflict as what presently besets the students in some areas in Mindanao.

Recognizing the critical immediacy of addressing the need for secondary
education of the aforementioned citizens, this measure seeks to institutionalize the open
high school system in the country.



The open high school system delivers educational services to high school
students utilizing print, radio, television and computer-based communications, satellite
oroadcasting, teleconferencing and other multi-media leaming and teaching
inologies that allow students to study on their own without having to regularly attend
tional classrooms. This alternative leaming system is consistent with
sl mandate to democratize access to quality education at all levels even
the vital roie of the youth in nation-building.”

Accordingly, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Za

v
2
AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.
2™ District, Province of Iloilo

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No__1524

introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES,

d by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
gress assembled:

is Act shall be known as the “Open High School

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — it is hereby declared the policy of the State to
broaden access to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative
learning system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical,
socio-economic and/or physical constraints to their completion of secondary education

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
hereby defined:

a} Open High School System is a system of delivering educational services to
high school students utilizing print, radio, television and computer-based
communications, satellite broadcasting, teleconferencing, and other multi-
media learning and teaching technologies that allow the students to study on
their own without having to regularly attend classes in conventional
classrooms.

b) Distance Learning Program is an educational program whereby the teaching
and leaming process are accomplished through self-instructional materials
that allow independent study, multi-channel learning and school-family-
community partnership.

¢) Inang Paaralan or Mother High School is a regular secondary in the regional
or division level that functions among others, as: 1) headquarters of the
distance leamers and teachers; 2) center for enrolment, evaluation, direct or
face-to-face instruction and promotion of distance learners: 3) receiver of
donations, instructional materials and reports relative to distance learning;
and 4) coordinator of the different learning centers in the community.



d) Guro is a regular secondary teacher of the “Inang Paaralan” who is in charge
of direct instruction, evaluation of students progress and keeping of the
records of individual learners

) Gurong Tagapatnubay is a regular secondary school teacher of the Inang
paaralan who serves as guidance counselor to the distance learners; coordi
The National Historical Institute (NHI) shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

f) Gurong Kadiuan is a resource person with specialized skills in practical or
industrial subjects such as farming, handicraft, auto-mechanics, tailoring and
other skills.

g) Para Guro is a degree holder or college level citizen/resident in the
community who manages a learning center and facilitates the learning
process of a group of distance learners

h) Tagapayong Pansamahan is the adviser of a club in the community who
helps learners harmonize study with community service and leisure.

SEC. 4. Jnstitutionalization of the Open High School System. - To carry out
the above-declared policy, the Open High School System herein referred to as the
System is hereby institutionalized in the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of
the Act.

SEC. 5. Coverage. ~ This Act shall apply to public secondary educational
institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such institutions that
shall later be authorized as qualified implementers of the System.

All existing programs and projects of the Bureau of Secondary Education
egarding dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shalll be part of
the Open High School System.

SEC. 6. Clientele of the System. - The System shall be open to all youth and
adults who have finished elementary education and high school qualifiers of the
Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT).

SEC. 7. Administration and Supervision. — The Department of Education
(OepEd) shall administer and supervise the system. An Open High School System shall
be attached to the Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) to assist the Bureau in
performing the following functions

a) Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System;

b) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the system
effective and productive

c) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for integration with
the System;

d) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials;
e) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units

(LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and other private agencies
for the effective operation of the System;

f) Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective


plementation of the System:

g) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the System for inclusion in
the General Appropriations Act for the year; and

h) Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the
System,

SEC. 8. Establishment of Distance Learning Centers. — Distance Learning
Centers shall be established in the Inang Paaralan or in the community. The Center is a
room or building where the distance learners can conduct researches or gather
additional information on the topics under study. It can Also serve as a venue where the
Gurong Kadluan can conduct hands-on exercises/activities.

SEC. 9. Collaboration between the Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). - The DepEd and the
DILG shall sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role of local
government units in the operation of the System in order to ensure maximum
collaboration between the DepEd and local government units toward the success of the
System.

SEC. 10. Role of Government Broadcast Stations and Telecommunication
Networks. ~ Government broadcast stations and telecommunication networks shall
provide the necessary assistance and support to the System; Provided, That private
stations and networks shall also be encourageg to provide the same.

SEC. 11. Role of Parents. ~ Parents of distance learners shall be provided with
adequate information on the System as well as for sharing experiences to enable to
competently assist the children in their distance learning.

SEC. 12. Personnel Recruitment and Incentives. — All personnel involved in
the System shall have adequate and appropriate education and training to be
determined by the BSE — DepEd. 2

Teachers or Guros and Gurong Tagapatnubay shall receive incentives and/or
monetary compensation as determined by the BSE ~ DepEd while Para Guro, Gurong
Kadluan and Tagapayong Pansamahan shall receive honoraria, to be arranged with the
local school board.

It shall be the duty of the local government units concerned to employ the Para
Guro, Gurong Kadiuan and Tagapayong Pansamahan in accordance with the
guidelines on hiring such personnel prepared upon prior consultation with the BSE —
DepEd and issued by the same LGUs.

SEC. 13. Training of the System’s Teachers. - The Open High School Unit
attached to the Bureau of Secondary Education shall take charge of the training of the
Guro, Gurong Tagapatnubay, Gurong Kadluan, Para Guro and Tagapayong
Pansamahan

SEC. 14. Curriculum Content. - The System shall adopt the National
Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools
Learning Competencies (PSSLC)

The Open High School System Unit in collaboration with the Curriculum
Development Division, Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) shall modify the herein
adopted curriculum, devise a rating system, instructional strategies and materials that
will suit the psycho-social needs and physical condition of conduct disordered and anti-


social leamers who are detained in correctional institutions. In the charge of this
function, the BSE shall consult with professional psychiatrists, psychologists, social
workers and other related experts who manage or deal with youth offenders who are
undergoing rehabilitation

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
ation through the curricul lopment Division of the Bureau of Secondary
ducation, upon prior consultation with the Committees on Education of the Senate and
the House of Representatives, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
tive implementation of this Act within a period of ninety (90) days after its approval.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act, shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Distance
Learning Program of the BSE — DepEd. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
its continued implementation shail be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees and orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved