Republic of the Philippines

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hs O3WL 2013

Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 1664

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales IL

It is enshrined in our Constitution that: “The State shall give priority to
education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and
development” (Sec, 17, Art. Il). Further, “The State shall protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all.” (Sec. 1, Art. XIV).

Based on a recent report from UNESCO's Institute for Statistics, the
Philippines is among the top five countries with the highest number of out of
school children. The establishment of free public education alone can not
address the problem of children dropping from schools. While poverty may be
the main reason that parents either allow or force their children to drop from
school in order to augment the family income, geographic location and prohibitive
environment also deters children to continue their education.

In pursuit of the policy of the State to empower its people by giving priority
to education, this bill seeks to provide an alternative mode of formal secondary
education program for elementary school graduates and high school drop-outs.
‘Through this measure, they shall be able to complete secondary education in a
purely distance learning mode. The system shall utilize alternative modes of
educational services that will allow students to study on their own without
having to regularly attend classes in conventional classrooms. This also allows
independent study, multi-channel learning and school-family-community
partnership.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

NEPTALY/M. GONZALES II



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1064

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales II

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Open High
School System Act”.

SEC. 2.Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be 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, socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to encourage
them to complete secondary education. To achieve this, the State recognizes that
education must be accessible in its various modalities to all Filipino citizens,
recognizing the importance of basic education through out-of-school study
programs particularly those that respond to community needs in promoting the
welfare of the nation.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The terms used in this Act are hereby defined
as follows:

(a) Open High School System (OHSS) refers to a system of delivering

educational services to high school students utilizing print, radio, television and


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computer-based communications, satellite broadcasting, teleconferencing and
other multi-media learning and teaching technologies that allow students to

study on their own without having to regularly attend classes in conventional

classrooms.
(b) Distance Learning Program refers to an educational program —_in which
the teaching and learning processes are accomplished through self-

instructional materials and allows independent study, multi-channel learning
and school-family-community partnership.

(c) Inang paaratan or mother high school refers to a regular secondary school

in the regional or division level that function, among others, as:

(1) Headquarters of the distance learners and teachers;

(2) Center for enrollment, evaluation, direct or face-to-face instruction
and promotion of distance learning;

(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 refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the ‘inang paaralan”
who is in charge of direct instruction, evaluation of student progress and keeping
of the records of individual learners.

(e) Gurong tagapatnubay refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the
“inang paaralan” who serves as guidance counselor to the distance learners,
coordinates with the “guro” and “para guro” in evaluating the students’ progress,

and prepares and submits reports to the authorities concerned.


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(9 Gurong kadluan refers to a resource person with specialized skills in
practical or industrial subjects such as farming, handicraft, auto-mechanics,
tailoring and other skills.

(2) Para guro refers to a degree holder or a college level resident in the
community who manages a learning center and facilitates the learning process of
a group of distance learners.

(h) Tagapayong pansamahan refers to the adviser of a club in the community
who helps learners harmonize study with community service and leisure.

SEC, 4. Establishment of the OHSS, - The OHSS is hereby established as
part of the Department of Education’s alternative secondary education program
to provide access to secondary education through the distance learning modality.

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

All existing programs and projects of the Bureau of Secondary Education
(BSE) regarding dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education
shall form part of the OHSS.

SEC. 6.Clientele of the OHSS. - The OHSS 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 Functions. - The Department of Education
(DepED), through the BSE, shall administer the OHSS. An OHSS Unit shall be
attached to the BSE to assist in performing the following functions:

(a) Formulate the basic policies of the OHSS;


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(b) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the OHSS
effective and productive;

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

(d) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials;

(e) Consult and collaborate with other DepED divisions, local government
units (LGUs), civil society organizations and other private agencies for the
effective operation of the OHSS;

() Promuigate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of the OHSS;

(g) Recommend to the DepED the annual budget of the OHSS for inclusion
in the annual General Appropriations Act; and

(h) Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of
the OHSS.

SEC. 8.Curriculum Content. ~The OHSS shall adopt the National Secondary
Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools Learning
Competencies (PSSLC).

The DepED’s BSE Curriculum Development Division, in collaboration with
the University of the Philippines (UP) - Open Educational System, may modify
the curriculum and devise a separate rating system and develop appropriate
instructional strategies and materials to suit the psycho-social needs and
physical condition of anti-social learners who are detained in correctional
institutions. In the discharge of this function, the BSE shall consult with
professional psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other experts in

dealing with children who are in conflict with the law.


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SEC. 9.Personnel Recruitment and Incentives. - The DepED shall determine
the qualifications of personnel recruited to work under the OHSS.

‘The teachers or “guros” and “gurong tagapatnubay” shall receive incentives
and monetary compensation as determined by the BSE-DepED, while the “para
guro”, “gurong kadluan” and “tagapayong pansamahan” shall receive honoraria,
to be arranged with the local school board.

In accordance with the guidelines it shall issue on the hiring of personnel,
the LGUs concerned shall hire the “para guro”, “gurong kadluan” and
“tagapayong pansamahan”: Provided, That said guidelines shall be prepared in
consultation with the DepED.

SEC. 10. Training of Teaching Staff. - ‘The DepED shall take charge of
the training of the “guro”, “gurong tagapatnubay’, “para guro”, “gurong kadluan”
and “tagapayong pansamahan”. The training of the “para guro”, “gurong
kadluan” and “tagapayong pansamahan” shall be in coordination with the LGUs
and the nongovernment organizations concemed.

Nonteaching stakeholders such as parents and LGU personnel, among
others, who are needed to provide support to the OHSS, shall likewise be
included in the training program.

SEC. 11. Establishment of Distance Learning Centers. - Pending the
establishment of distance learning centers in the “inang paaralan” in the
community, the DepED shall establish at least two (2) pilot centers in each
region.

A center shall be housed in a room or a building where the distance learners

can conduct researches or gather additional information on topics under study.


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It may also serve as a venue where the “gurong kadluan” can conduct hands-on
activities.

SEC. 12. Memorandum of Agreement. - The DepED, the UP - Open
Educational System and the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) are encouraged to adopt a Memorandum of Agreement defining their
respective roles in the operation of the OHSS to ensure maximum cooperation
towards the success of the OHSS.

SEC. 13. Private Sector Participation. ~ Private educational institutions
may establish their own privately-funded distance learning centers following the
standards and criteria provided for in this Act for the OHSS, subject to the
approval of the DepED.

The DepED shall encourage and promote close partnership with concerned
civil society organizations and other service providers in order to sustain an
enabling environment for participatory planning, budgeting and implementation
of the OHSS related programs and projects.

SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s
appropriations of the Distance Learning Program of the DepED. Thereafter, the
amount necessary for the continued operation of the OHSS shall be included in
the DepED’s budget in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act, the DepED, in consultation with the DILG
and the UP - Open Educational System, shall promulgate the rules and

regulations needed for the effective implementation of this Act.


SEC. 16.  Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in
force and effect.

SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,