Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4681

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For the past years, the Department of Education (DepEd) has
been concentrating mainly on the needs of public schools. Although
indeed problems in the public educational institution are enormous
and deserving of much attention, the DepEd should not lose sight of
the whole picture. Private education also has its own problems,
wants and areas for improvement which have to be addressed and
resolved as well, Yet, it cannot be denied that only limited time and
efforts are given to private schools.

To give one example of the clamors made by private schools,
DepEd gives only one supervisor in charge of all the private schools
in the division. Just in NCR which has 16 schools divisions, there
are only 16 supervisors manning close to 2,000 private schools in
Metro Manila. Clearly, there is a shortage of school supervisors for
private schools; and usually, the only supervisor for private schools
is also tasked to attend to other assignments like scouting,
nutrition, one academic subject and lastly, the private schools.


Considering the dilemma faced by the private schools, it is
about time that a bureau is created that will exclusively cater to the
needs of private education specifically the private elementary and
high school sectors.

Through the creation of the Bureau of Private Schools, all
matters concerning private education in private and elementary
schools shall all be directed to a centralized department. All
concerns, problems, transactions and activities relating to private
schools will now be heard and catered to immediately by the said
Bureau. By doing this, the DepEd’s load of work will definitely be
lessened and unclogged. On the other hand, meeting the concerns
of the private elementary and high schools will be fast tracked.

Clearly, the creation of the Bureau of Private Schools promises
more efficiency and output. Moreover, it also ensures that all
problems - whether coming from public or private schools, will be
attended to extensively. It is for this reason that the approval of this
Bill is hereby being sought.

aww C
ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4681

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BUREAU OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO
ADMINISTER, SUPERVISE AND REGULATE PRIVATE SCHOOLS
OFFERING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE
COUNTRY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the Bureau of
Private Schools for Primary and Secondary Education Act of 2014.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall protect,
foster and promote the right of all citizens to affordable quality
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to ensure
that education shall be accessible to all. The State shall likewise
ensure and protect academic freedom and shall promote its exercise
and observance for the continuing intellectual growth and the
advancement of learning.

SECTION 3. Coverage and Limitation. It is understood that
the provisions of this Act shall only cover activities and other
concerns or matters relating to private schools or institutions
offering primary and/or secondary education. The Bureau shall be
under the direct control and supervision of the Department of
Education (DepEd) and in no case shall the former interfere or


transgress with the powers of the DepEd unless otherwise expressly
stated in this Act.

SECTION 4. Creation of the Bureau. Pursuant to the
abovementioned policies, the Bureau of Private Schools is hereby
created, hereinafter referred to as the Bureau. The Bureau shall be
responsible for administering, supervising and regulating all private
schools offering primary and/or secondary education. The Bureau
shall be under the direct control of the DepEd but it shall act
mainly for the purpose of centralizing the administration of all
concerns relating only to private schools.

SECTION 5. Composition of the Bureau. The Bureau shall
be composed of a Chief Director and four (4) full-time Assistant
Directors to assist the Chief Director. There shall also be appointed
Regional Directors for each region. The Chief Director, Assistant
Directors and Regional Directors shall be appointed by the
President and they shall hold office until their successors have been
appointed and qualified. The Chief Director, Assistant Directors and
Regional Directors shall be at least a holder of post graduate
courses.

SECTION 6. Powers and Functions of the Bureau. With
respect to private schools, the DepEd shall devolve the following
powers and functions to the Bureau:

a. formulate and recommend development plans, policies,
priorities, and programs for private primary and secondary
education;

b. recommend to the executive and legislative branches,
priorities and grants on basic and secondary education;

c. set minimum standards for programs and institutions of
learning, subject to public hearing, and enforce the same;

d. monitor and evaluate the performance of programs and
institutions of basic learning for appropriate incentives as well as


the imposition of sanctions such as, but not limited to, diminution
or withdrawal of subsidy, recommendation on the downgrading or
withdrawal of accreditation, program termination or school closure;

e. identify, support and develop potential centers of excellence
in program areas needed for the development of world-class
scholarship, nation building and national development;

f. rationalize programs and institutions of primary and/or
secondary learning and set standards, policies and guidelines for
the creation of new ones, subject to budgetary limitations and the
number of institutions of private primary and/or secondary
education in the province or region where creation is sought to be
made;

g. review the guidelines or rules and regulations issued by
private schools and/or private institutions offering primary and/or
secondary education.

h. promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such
other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out
effectively the purpose and objectives of this Act; and

i, perform such other functions as may be necessary for its
effective operations and for the continued enhancement, growth or
development of private primary and/or secondary education.

SECTION 7. Guarantee of Academic Freedom. Nothing in
this Act shall be construed as limiting the academic freedom of
private universities and colleges. In particular, no abridgment of
curricular freedom of the individual educational institutions by the
Bureau shall be made except for:

(a) Minimum unit requirements for specific academic
programs;

(b) General education distribution requirements as may be
determined; and


(c) Recommendation of tuition ceiling and/or tuition increase
rate.

SECTION 8. Accreditation. The Bureau shall provide
incentives to private institutions of primary and/or secondary
education whose programs are accredited or whose needs are for
accreditation purposes.

SECTION 9. Authority. The Bureau shall exercise such
authority as may be deemed necessary within its premises or areas
of operation to effectively carry out its powers and functions and to
attain its objectives. Provided, That the DepEd may at any time
order the Bureau to desist from exercising certain powers or
functions that are inconsistent with that of DepEd and other
government agencies.

SECTION 10. Budget Appropriation. The funding for the
creation of the Bureau of Private School shall be sourced from the
budget allotted to DepEd and shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Unless
otherwise provided in this Act, the DepEd shall promulgate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions of
this Act.

Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon their
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential
decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and
regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - In the event that any
provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provisions shall
not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable.


SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
after its complete publication in at least three (3) newspapers of
general circulation.

APPROVED.