Republic ot *..* Philippines
House of Rey cesentatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila 2° nov zon
FIFTEENTH CC GRESS SPH
Third Regulii

“the i

4 t
HOUSE BILL NO. b 70 =

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KIMI 8. COJUANGCO

Explanatory Note

The proposed measure aims to improve the quality of public school
education by hiring those that are truly qualified for the job. This is
made possible with the Independent Proficiency Assessment system
where the Department of Education will call upon the College of
Education of the University of the Philippines to administer a test to
all those applying for the position of public school teacher. Only those
that pass the tesl, which will be determined by the University of the
Philippines, will be included in the division-wide rank list of applicants
for the position. This ensures that the Filipino learners will be
receiving quality education from qualified teachers as well as protect
the system from corrupt practices, personal biases and personal
favors, which are often times politically motivated. Safeguards have
been included against those that plan and possibly will alter or hinder
the results.

This system of testing applicants has already been done in the town of
Sison, Pangasinan where | served as mayor before I became
Congresswoman. As a result of my decision to conduct this
assessment before hiring teachers, the quality of education in the
town began Lo rise.

It is no mystery what the state of public education in the Philippines is
and the way to fix it is io make sure that the Filipinos are given the
best possible education by qualified teachers. Just like in the town of
Sison, if this system is implemented nationwide then there in turn will
be a nationwide rise in the quality of public school education. In the
end, it is the youth of our country who will benefit from this bill. We
not owe it to them to fulfill the right given by the Constitution to
quality education. It is through this bill that their right is served,


In view of the above, the early passage of this bill is carnestly
requested.


Republic of the Phitippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

BOL

HOUSE BILL NO,

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KIMI 8, COJUANC

AN ACT
REQUIRING AN INDEPENDENT PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT IN THE.
APPOINTMENT AND HIRING OF TEACHERS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY LEVELS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Independent
Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers Act of 2012."

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy - 11 is hereby declared the policy of the
State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic
education by providing all Filipino learners wilh the most qualified,
competent and highly skilled teachers whose appointment should be based
on merit and fitnes

Tt shall be one of the primordial goals of basic education to eliminate
mediocrity in instruction by instituting a system thal will ensure that only
quality teachers and those who have the potential to be leaders in education
be allowed to occupy the basic teaching positions in public elementary and
secondary education.

SEC. 3. Objectives. —This Act aims to attain the following objectives

1} To ensure that only the most qualified of applicants and those
who have the potential to be leaders in education are given the
positions of teacher. By requiring all applicants to take and,


more importantly, pass ihe “Independent — Proficiency

Assessment”, we are ensurin; .hat our teachers are the best they
can be.
2) To remove corruption tru. | system of choosing teachers by

removing personal bias:

i vors from the picture.

3) To provide Filipino fearne:, with quality education by
guaranteeing that only those applicants who have passed the
“Independent Proficiency Assessment” and are truly qualified to
fill the role of teacher.

4) To ensure that schools are equipped with the most capable of
teachers therefore ensuring that all schools are able to provide
top quality education to all its students regardless of
background.

5) To provide all Filipino learners equal opportunities at quality
education by ensuring that all schools are staffed by truly
capable and qualified teachers

6) To aid in the government's goal of providing top quality
education to all Filipino learners by ensuring all students are
taught by qualified and well trained teachers.

SEC, 4, Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant
Teachers, - There is hereby established a system to be known as the
“Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers” which all
applicants for teaching positions in public elementary and secondary levels
must undergo and pass before they may be included in the Registry of
Qualified Applicants and in the division-wide ranidist_to be prepared by the
Division Selection Committee organized by the School
Superintendent pursuant to Dep!) Order No. 20, series of 2009.

SEC. 5, Implementation - The College of Education of the University
of the Philippines shall be the lead agency responsible for (he conduct of the
Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers, and shall be
tasked with the preparation of the rules of the examination, its method,
type, coverage, planning and dissemination.

It may also engage the services of a reputable and independent testing
center duly accredited by it, which shall serve to assist in the proper and
efficient implementation or administration of the proficiency test. In all
cases, such testing center/s shall be under the direct control and
supervision of the lead agency.


SEC. 6. Appointment and Hiring of Teachers - No applicant for
teaching positions in public elemer-tary and secondary levels shall be
appointed and hircd unless he — she is included in the Registry of
Qualified Applicants and in th _ istrict-wide ranklist of applicants as
provided in Scction 3 hereof, al successfully passing the proficiency
assessment conducted by the Collv.< of Education of the University of the
Philippines or any of its accredited inulependent testing centers,

SEC. 7, Rules and Regulations — The Department of Education, in
coordination with the College of Education of the University of the
Philippines, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8 Penal Provision. - Any person who shall willfully alter,
modify, or tamper with the true and correct. resulls of the proficiency
assessment, or shall, in any manner, obstruct, prevent, delay, or hinder
the release thereof, for the purpose of giving undue advantage 10 an
applicant or applicants, or shall suppress any of the objectives of this Act,
will, after being convicted by a competent court, be liable to pay a fine of
fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) or tw suffer un imprisonment of six
months but not more than two years or both such fine and imprisonment, at
the discretion of the court.

SEC. 9, Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be made chargeable against the budget of
the Department of Education under the current General Appropriations
Act. Thereafter, such sums deemed necessary for the continued and
effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annuat General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - \{ for any reason, any portion or
provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or any part thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.



SEC. 12. Effectivity.- Thi: - ) take effect fifteen (15) davs after
publication in the official gazette ¢ '1W5 (2) national newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,