Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bu wo. 2343

Introduced by HONORABLE EDCEL C. LAGMAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A country that fails or neglects to give premium to the education of its peopie
will inevitably falter in human development and lag behind in economic advancement.
This is the adverse situation which the Philippines is experiencing today as its annual
appropriation for education pales in comparison with that of most of its Asian
neighbors.

The budget for secondary education has grown minimally. From P73.46B for
school year 2007-2008, the secondary education budget rose by only 3% to P75.68B
for school year 2008-2009. It increased to P89.97B for school year 2009-2010 for an
encouraging 18.9% growth, only for that annual percentage growth to relapse to
2.3% for the current school year when the budget feebly increased by P2.06B to
P92.03B.

While public high schools teem with students, they dismaily lack in teachers and
classrooms. These shortages result in unwieldy classes with an alarming average
student-teacher ratio of 45:1, galloping to 70:1 in some highly urbanized areas.

The dismal access to secondary education in the country is evidenced by the
fact that less than 55% of families in the lowest 10% percentile income bracket have
children enrolled in high school while 75% of the families in the top 10% percentile
have their children in the secondary level.

Poverty has driven poor parents to allow if not push their children to work to
augment family income. The 2004 Annual Poverty Indicator Surveys (APIS) revealed
‘that poor families are more likely to have working children 5 to 17 years old, with 23%
of poor families having working children compared to only 8% among the non-poor
families. An increase in child labor was seen in the lowest 30% income stratum from
year 2002 to 2004.

The drop-out rate of high schoo! students is 68%. This means that for every
100 students who enter high school only 32 would graduate.

Since the country cannot in a short period of time solve the shortages of
teachers and classrooms, it has to avail itself of innovative and alternative means of
delivering education to the more marginalized sectors, particularly in secondary
education. This is the justification, the essence, the core and the objective of this bill
that seeks to institutionalize the open high school system where the need for teachers
and classrooms is minimal or almost absent, unlike in the conventional system. The
open high school system utilizes print, radio, television and 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.


The beneficiaries of the open high school system are the following:

ly Children of high school age who 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 earn a living or they themselves are
working in order to augment the family income.

2. Children of high school age who are prevented from attending classes
regularly because they are geographically distant from the nearest high school.

3. Youth offenders who cannot attend conventional classes because they
are detained in correctional institutions or rehabilitation centers.

4. The youth whose secondary education is hampered by armed conflicts
like in some areas in Mindanao and certain portions of Luzon and the Visayas.

The following are the salient features of the proposed open high school system:

1. The system shall be open to all youth and adults who have finished
elementary education and high school qualifiers under the Philippine Educational
Placement Test (PEPT).

Ds Distance Learning Centers shall be established in a regular secondary
school in the regional or division level where the distance learners can conduct
researches or gather additional information on topics under study.

De The DepEd and DILG shall collaborate in the implementation of the
system.

4. Government broadcast stations and telecommunications networks shall
provide the necessary assistance and support to the system and private stations and
networks shall also be encouraged to provide the same.

5. The system shall adopt the National Secondary Education Curriculum
(NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools Learning Competencies (PSSC).

This proposed legislation was initially filed in the 11” Congress and
reintroduced in the succeeding Congresses. It was approved by the House of

Representatives in the 13" and 14” Congresses. The Senate, however failed to pass
it.

Accordingly, prompt approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No, 2343

Introduced by: HONORABLE EDCEL C. LAGMAN

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 of 2010”.

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, socioeconomic 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 (QHSS)” 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 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 learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional materials that allow
independent study, multi-channel learning and school- family-community partnership.

(c) “Inang Paaralan or Mother High School” is a regular secondary school in the
regional or division level that functions, 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 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 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” is 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.


(f) “Gurong Kadluan” 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)"Tagapagpayong Pansamahan” is the adviser of a club in the community who.
helps learners harmonize study with community service and leisure.

SEC. 4. Institutionalization of the OHSS. — To carry out the above-declared
policy, the OHSS, hereinafter referred to as the System, is hereby institutionalized in
the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of this 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 (BSE)
regarding dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall be part
of the 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 (DepEd)
shall administer and supervise the System. An OHSS Unit shall be attached to the 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), nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and other private agencies for the
effective operation of the System;

(f) Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation 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. - Pending the establishment
of distance learning centers in the “inang paaralan” in the community, at least two (2)
pilot centers in each Region be organized meanwhile.

The center is a room or a building where the distance learners can conduct
researches or gather additional information on 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 the Interior and Local Government (DILG). - The DepEd and the DILG
shall sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role of the LGUs in the
operation of the System in order to ensure maximum collaboration between the DepEd
and the LGUs 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 encouraged 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 them
to competently assist their children in their distance learning.

SEC. 12. Private Sector Participation. - Private schools and 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.

SEC. 13. 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.

Teachers or “guros” and “gurong tagapatnubay” shall receive incentives and/or
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.

Tt shall be the duty of the LGUs concerned to employ the “para guro”, “gurong
kadluan” and “tagapayong pansamahan” in accordance with the guidelines on hiring of
personnel prepared upon prior consultation with the BSE-DepEd and issued by the
same LGUs.

SEC. 14. Training of the System's Teachers. — The OHSS Unit attached to the
BSE 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 NGOs concerned.

SEC. 15. Curriculum Content. - The System shall adopt the National Secondary
Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools Learning
Competencies (PSSLC).

The OHSS Unit, in collaboration with the Curriculum Development Division, BSE-
DepEd, 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 antisocial 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 related experts who
manage or deal with youth offenders who are undergoing rehabilitation.

SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, through the
Curriculum Development Division of the BSE, upon prior consultation with the
Committees on Basic Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, shall
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act
within a period of ninety (90) days after its approval.

SEC. 17. 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

5


its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 18. 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. 19. Repealing Cause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 20. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,