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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1, mandates the State to protect and promote the 
right of all citizens to quality education. To comply with this mandate, the State must assist the 
schools in recruiting and retaining only quality teachers. 
At present, we do not have sufficient supply of teachers who are hlly qualifi e' d to 
' teach 
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English, Mathematics, and Science. The 1 ack o f quality teachers undermines the right o f t he 
students to receive quality and appropriate education. 
Corrective action must be taken to prevent further decline in teacher quality. This bill 
seeks to provide quality teachers for students enrolled in the elementary and secondary public 
schools. 


THRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILPPWES 
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AhlG -3 P333 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE QUALITY TEACHERS FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “A Quality Teacher in Every 
Classroom Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPoJicy. - It i s  the policy of the State to protect 
the right of all citizens to quality education. To achieve this purpose, the State 
students shall have competent teachers. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term - 
(1) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Deparhnent of Education. 
(2) “Department” refers to the Department of Education (DepEd). 
SECTION 4. Parental Right. - It shall be required that parents of students who are 
currently enrolled in the elementary or secondary public schools must be given, at the beginning 
of every s chool year, a prospectus stating the qualifications o f e ach o f t he student’s teachers, 
both generally and with respect to the subject area or areas in which the teacher provides 
instruction. 
SECTION 5. Demonstration Requirement. - No elementary school or secondary school 
teacher shall be accepted to teach unless he has demonstrated to the administrator or Principal his 


subject matter lcnowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill necessary to teach effectively 
the subject are or areas in which the teacher provides instruction. 
Any teacher for whom the demonstration described in the preceding paragraph has been 
waived temporarily to respond to emergency teacher shortages or other circumstances shall, not 
later than one (1) year after such waiver, comply with the requirement. 
No student will be taught for more than one (1) year by an elementary school teacher, or 
for more than two (2) consecutive years in the same subject by a secondary school teacher, who 
has not made the demonstration described in the previous paragraph. 
SECTION 6. Incentives. - The Secretary shall adopt incentive programs that will 
encourage -E%ichers to pursue and achieve advanced training or higher education. These programs 
shall include monetary awards, promotions and scholarship grants. 
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SECTION 7. Trainings and Seminars. - The Department shall initiate training and 
SECTION 8. Removal of Incompetent or Unqualified Teachers. - The Secret ry shall set 
standards and qualifications which shall ensure that only competent and qualified teachers will 
be employed. Any public elementary or high school teacher already employed but who fails to 
meet the standards and qualifications required by the Department shall be removed. 
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seminars designed primarily to produce quality teachers. 
SECTION 9. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the centers shall be included in 
the annual appropriations of the Department of Education. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the reminder o f t he 1 aw o f t he provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 1 1. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or i ssuance, executive 
order, letter of i nstruction, administrative order, rule or regulation c ontrary t 0, or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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AppToved. 
/704 
JPS