Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT REGULATING THE LEARNER CLASS SIZE IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, 
JUNIOR HIGH, AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
(UNESCO) Institute for Statistics, classrooms in the Philippines are among the most crowded in 
Asia, with some classrooms reaching 1 teacher per 77 students. This is due to the rapid growth of 
the number of students, while there is a shortage of teachers in public schools. 
Multiple studies have shown that overcrowded classrooms are not conducive for learning as it 
makes it difficult for learners to concentrate, and at the same time, it spreads the teachers out too 
thin. These oversized classrooms violate the student’s constitutional right to quality education. 
Further, it also violates the teachers’ rights to a just and humane working environment. Given the 
advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is physically unsafe to force classrooms to be highly 
congested. 
Thus, there must be institutional mechanisms to regulate the teacher student ratio in public primary 
schools, in order to foster an environment that will allow our students to maximize learning, and 
to allow our teachers to effectively carry out their teaching work. 
Thus, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER “TOFF” V.P. DE VENECIA 
Fourth District, Pangasinan 
July 28, 2022
3:08 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT REGULATING THE LEARNER CLASS SIZE IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, 
JUNIOR HIGH, AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Public School Class Size Law” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the 
right of all citizens to quality education. It is likewise declared that the State shall provide just 
compensation and humane working conditions for public school teachers. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. — This law shall apply to all public schools under the Department of 
Education, and all classroom teachers therein, regardless of whether they are paid by the national 
or local government. 
SEC. 4. Standard Class Size. — Each class to be handled by a single teacher shall have a standard 
size of 35 students for elementary, junior high school and senior high school. For purposes of this 
Act, any class with not more than 35 students shall be considered a standard class. 
SEC. 5. Large Class Size. — Any class exceeding 35 students up to a maximum of 50 students 
shall be considered a large class. In no case shall a class size in excess of 50 students be permitted. 
SEC. 6. Large Class Honorarium. — A teacher handling a large class shall be entitled to a large 
class honorarium equivalent to one percent (1.0%) of her daily rate for every student in excess of 
the standard class size of 35. 
This formula shall apply to all classes assigned to the teacher during the school year. 
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SEC. 7. Transition Period. — Schools shall be given three (3) school years to adjust their class 
structures to fit the standard class size in order to meet the ideal ratio. Mechanisms may include, 
but are not limited to, additional hiring of teachers or splitting of current classes. However, schools 
may not resort to summary dismissal of students in order to meet the standard class size.  
SEC. 8. Reportorial Requirement. — The Department of Education shall be required to file a 
report annually to the Congress, through the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture 
and the Senate Committee with its terms and compliance of this Act on or before April 30 of each 
year.  
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Education shall promulgate 
the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act within a period of thirty (30) 
days after its effectivity. 
SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The amount of One Billion Pesos (P 1,000,000,000) is hereby 
appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the appropriations for the 
Department of Education in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional, all other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, and other issuances 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,