SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
4 .1^ , 
Senate
f f i u  of 
r. p '^ r y
•16 AUG -1 AH :30
SENATE
s. No. 929
i ; 1'
nv:
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
ENSURING ACCESS TO SECONDARY EDUCATION BY CONVERTING ALL PUBLIC 
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INTO INTEGRATED SCHOOLS OFFERING COMPLETE 
BASIC EDUCATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
There has been an alarming increase of elementary graduates who are unable to pursue 
secondary education because of the limited number of high schools accessible within their 
communities. Data from the Department of Education (DepEd) show that as of SY 2015-2016, there 
are only 8,159 public secondary schools as compared to the 38,688 public elementary schools. In 
short, there is only one public high school for every five elementary schools. Almost all barangays in 
the country have at least one elementary school as opposed to high schools which are usually found 
only in urban areas and population centers. As a result, 94.5 percent of school-age children are 
enrolled in elementary, while only 86.2 percent are enrolled in high school.1
Furthermore, many children in the rural areas are not enrolled in high school. The shortage of 
public high schools, particularly in rural areas, possibly explains the alarming number of children 
who are not enrolled in high school. Despite basic education being free, students need to bear the 
costs for food, school materials, and transportation, among others. According to the 2011 Armual 
Poverty Indicators Survey, topping the list of reasons for not attending school is the high cost of 
education. Other reasons cited are far distances of schools, lack of schools within the barangay, and 
the lack of regular transportation.
Students are in need of an accessible high school within their community. The government 
should pay immediate attention and address the gross shortage in public secondary schools to reduce 
the number of out-of-school youths in the country. With the implementation of the K to 12 program, 
a more conscious effort to maximize the resources of the schools should be initiated in order to reach 
out to more students. Establishing more secondary schools will open opportunities for students to 
access complete basic education at a lower cost and meet the growing educational needs of the youth.
This bill therefore expands existing public elementary schools to become integrated schools 
offering complete basic education including higli school. With easier access to an integrated school, 
students will be able to continue their education without too much additional burden to the students 
who have to deal with the long commute, as well as to their families who need to provide their children 
with additional money for their transportation expenses. This would also result in expected savings 
on the part of the government as the facilities of the existing school may be utilized for the incoming 
high school students, with only standard repairs and retrofittings required, and a few additional 
classrooms to be constructed, rather than creating a separate public higli school in the area.
1 Adjusted Net Enrolment Rate (Ratio of School-age ehildren, 6-11 years old and 12-15 years old) in elementary and secondary 
schools, SY 2013-2014. Source: DepEd K to 12 Midterm Report 2015.