REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bilt No. 4337

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Palatino

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Ithas been said time and again that leaning should not be confined within the four
Walls of the classroom, This means that students shonld not only leam through formal
Jeaming instruction, official textbooks and voluminous readings required by professors,
dul more importantly, they should immerse themselves into the langer society that exists
outside their private lives—the society that breeds their personal tribulations, the society
that affects their decisions and aspirations in life.

Leaming beyond the four walls of the classroom also means that students should be
pen to ideas, perspectives and concepts seldom discussed inside the academe. By opening
themselves to a variety of ideas, concepts and perspectives, they are exposed to the larger
and more realistic picture of the world outside their confined spaces,

Some student formations and groups such as student councils and student
Oruanizations try to achieve this by holding akernative classes and educational discussions
among students. The University Student Council of the University of the Philippines
Diliman, for instance, conducts an Alternative Classroom Leaming Experience (ACLE)
ones every semester. The ACLE aims to educate the students with additional leaning not
usually taught within the classroom. It is a radical departure from the academic-based
Curriculum of schools. It is a venue wherein the students arc given the opportunity to eam
various skills and knowledge through thematic fora, symposia, film showings, and
Workshops. The ACLE is like a one-day altemative classes festival organized by the


student council and participated in by student organizations who invite speakers, conduct
wainings, etc. The activity, which was originally proposed by UP Diliman Student Council,
was later institutionalized in the different UP campuses.

Aitemative classroom activities are also held in other schools such as Ateneo de
Manila High Schoo! (KLIK or Klaseng Ibang Klase), University of Santo Tomas, and
Polytechnic University of the Philippines. During the 2nd National Youth Parliament of
the National Youth Commission, the delegates approved a resolution urging the
Commission on Higher Education to institutionalize the ACLE to all universities and
colleges.

‘The ACLE is conducted on the premise that leaming should be fun, that school
administrators should foster academic freedom and critical thinking among its students
and that various sectors inside the academe should be exposed to the issues of the
community. This bill, thus, seeks to institutionalize the said activity to all secondary and
tertiary educational institutions throughout the country and encourage students to
participate in the conduct of alternative classes.



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4337

House Bill No.

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Pulatino

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM LEARNING
EXPERIENCE (ACLE) PROGRAM TO ALL SECONDARY AND TERTIARY
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represeraatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title, — This act shall be known as the “Alternative Classes Act of
201"

SECTION 2. Alternative Classroom Leamiing Experience. — ‘The Alternative Classroom
Leaming Experience (ACLE) Program is a student-led and -organized activity that fosters
academic freedom inside our nation’s campuses, It aims to provide students with alternative
viewpoints, perspectives, ideas, and concepts not usuatly discussed through formal leaming,
instruction and not usually found in textbooks and official educational materials. Activities
related to the ACLE Program shall include but not limited to the following: workshops,
educational discussions, taining, fora, symposia, film showing and/or audivisual
presentations, lectures.

SECTION 3. Ail secondary and tertiary educational institutions are mandated to conduct an
Altemative Classroom Leuming Experience (ACLE) activity at least once every semester or
term, as the case may be. Student councils or student governments shail be primarily in
charge of organizing the said activity. School administrations shall provide the necessary
assistance to the student body to carry out the aim of this activity.

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