Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIF [H CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

COMMITTEE REPORT NO._ 2087
49 APR 2012

Submitted by the Committee on Basic Education on a.

RE uousr sino, 8086 _

Recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill Nos. 524, 648, 1524, 2343 and

3430

SPONSORS Representatives Escudero, Mercado-Reville, Angara, Syjuco, Lagman
and Castelo

Mr. Speaker:

The Committee on Basic Education and Culture. to which were referred House Bill
‘No. 524, introduced by Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, titled:
N ACT

ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

House Bill No, 648, introduced by Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, entitled:

N ACT

INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOS|

House Bill No. 1524, introduced by Rep. Aus

“AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”

House Bill No, 2343, introduced by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, entitled

AN ACT.
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”

tled:

and House Bill No. 3430, introduced by Rep. Winston T. Castelo,

“AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


has considered the same and has the honor to report them back to the House of
Gi _ entitled:

Representatives with the recommendation that House Bil! No. __€
‘ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPIN
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR™

AND

be approved in substitution of House Bill Nos. 524, 648, 1 2343 and 3430, with
Representatives Mercado-Revilla, Angara, Syjuco, Lagman, Castelo, Escudero, Tugna,
Teodoro, Acop, Del Mar. Herrera-Dy, Romualdo, Villafuerte and Zamora-Apsay as authors
thereof.

Respectfully submitted.

UE
UBERO IIT

DOR
Chairperson
Committze on Basic Education and Culture

St

THE HONORABLE SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

vousepntNo,___6086
{In substitution of House Bill Nos. 524, 648, 1524, 2343 and 3430)

Introduced by Representatives Lani Mercado-Revilla, Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Augusto
Boboy Syjuco, Edcel C. Lagman, Winston T. Castelo, Salvador H. Escudero
Til, Sherwin N. Tugna, Marcelino R. Teodoro, Romeo M. Acop, Rachel
Marguerite B. Del Mar, Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy, Pedro P. Romualdo, Luis
R. Villafuerte and Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES 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 “Open High School
System Act”.

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ tis hereby declared to be the policy of the State to
broaden access to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative
leaning system that would enable the youth, including adults, to overcome geographical,
socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to encourage them to complete secondary
education. To achieve this, the State recognizes that education must be accessible in its
various modalities to all Filipino citizens, recognizing the importance of basic education
through out-of-school! study programs particularly those that respond to community needs in
promoting the welfare of the nation.

SEC. 3, Definition of Terms ~ The terms used in this Act are hereby defined as
follows:

(a) Open High School System (OHSS refers io a system of delivering educational
services to high schoo! students utilizing print, radio, television and computer-
based communications, satellite broadcasting, teleconferencing, and other
multi-media learning and teaching technologies that allow students to study on
their own without having to regularly attend classes in conventional
classrooms;

(b) Distance Learning Program refers (0 an educational program in which the
teaching and learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional
materials and allows independent study, multi-channel iearning and school-
family-community partner:



(©) Inang Paaralan ox Mother High School refers to a regulat secondary schoo! in
the regional or division level that function, among others, as:

(1) Headquarters of the distance learners and teachers;

(2) Center for enrollment, evaluation, direct or face-to-face instruction and
promotion of distance leaming;

(3) Receiver of donat ;, instructional materials and reports relative to
distance learning; and

(4) Coordinator of the different leaming centers in the community;

(@) — Guro refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the “inang paaralan” who
is in charge of direct instruction, evaluation of student progress and keeping of
the records of individual learners;

(©) Gurong Tagapatnubay refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the
“nang paaralan” who serves as guidance counselor to the distance learners;
coordinates with the “guro” and “para guro” in evaluating the students’
progress; and prepares and submits reports to the authorities concerned;

(8 Gurong Kadluan refers to s resource person with specialized skills in practical
ot industrial subjects such as farming, handicraft, auto-mechanics, tailoring

and other skills;

(@) Para Guro refers to a degree holder or college level resident in the community
who manages a learning center and facilitates the learning process of a group
of distance learners; and

{h)  Tagapayong Pansamahan refers to the adviser of a club in the community
who helps leamers harmonize study with community service and leisure.

SEC. 4. Establishment of the OHSS. ~ The Open High School System (OHSS) is
hereby established as part of the Department of Education’s alternative secondary education
program to provide access to secondary educetion through the distance leaming modality.

SEC. 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to public secondary educational institutions
with existing distance leaming programs and all other such institutions that shall be
authorized as qualified implementers of the OHSS

All existing programs and projects of the Bureau of Secondary Education (BSF)
regarding dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall form part of
the OHSS.

SEC. 6. Clientele of the OHSS. - The OHSS shall be open to all youth and adults
who have finished clementary education and high school qualifiers of the Philippine
Educational Placement Test (PEPT).

SEC. 7. Administration and Functions. ~ The Department of Education (DepEd),
through the BSE, shall administer the OHSS. An OHSS Unit shall be attached to the BSE to
assist in performing the following functions:

(a) Formulate the basic policies of the OHSS;

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(6) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the OHSS effective
and productive;

(c) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for integration with
the OHSS

(d) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials;

{e) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units
(LGUs), civil society organizations and other private agencies for the effective
operation of the OHSS;

(8 Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the OHS

(@) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the OHSS for inclusion in the
annual General Appropriations Act; and

(h) Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the
OHSS.

SEC, 8. Curriculum Content. ~ The OHSS shall adopt the National Secondary
Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philispine Secondary Schools Leaming
Competencies (PSSLC)..

The DepEd’s BSE Curriculum Development Division, in collaboration with the
University of the Philippines (UP) ~ Open Educationel System, may modify the curriculum
and devise a separate rating system and develop appropriate instructional strategies and
materials to suit the psycho-social needs and physical condition of anti-social leamers who
are detained in correctional institutions. In the discharge of this function, the BSE shall
consult with professional psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other experts in
dealing with children who are in conflict with the law.

SEC. 9. Personnel Recruitment and Incentives. ~ The DepEd shall determine the
gualifications of personnel recruited to work under the OHSS.

The teachers or “guros” and “gurong tagapatnubay” shall receive incentives and
monetary compensation as determined by the BSE-DepEd, while the “para guro”, “gurong
kadluan” and “tagapayong pansamahan” shall receive honoraria, to be arranged with the local
sehoo! board.

In accordance with guidelines it shall issue on the hiring of personnel, the LGUs
concemed shall hire the “para guro”, “gurong kadluan” and “tagapayong pansamahan”
Provided, That said guidelines shall be prepared in consultation with the DepEd.

SEC. 10. Training of Teaching Staff - The DepEd shall take charge of the training
of the “guro”, “gurong tagapatnubay ‘gurong kadluan” and “tagapayong
pansamalian”. The training of the “para guro”, “gurong kadiuan” and “tagapayong
pansamahan” shall be in coordination with the LGUs and NGOs concerned



Non-teaching stakeholders such as parents and LGU personnel, among others, who
are needed to provide support to the OHSS. shall likewise be included in the training

program.

ment of Distance Learning Centers. ~ Pending the establishment
munity, the DepEd shall

SEC. 11. Establis
of distance learning centers in the “inang paaralan” in the coz
establish at least two (2) pilot centers in each Region

A Center shall be housed in a room or a building where the distance leamers can
conduct researches or gather additional information on topics under study. It may also serve
as a venue where the “gurong kadluan” can conduct hands-on activities.

SEC. 12. Memorandum of Agreement. ~ The DepEd, UP ~ Open Educational
System, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are encouraged to
adopt a Memorandum of Agreement defining their respective roles in the operation of the
OHSS to ensure maximum cooperation towards the success of the OHSS.

SEC. 13. Private Sector Participation, ~ Private educational institutions may
establish their own privately-funded distance learning centers following the standards and
criteria provided for in this Act for the OHSS, subject to the approval of the DepEd.

The DepEd shall encourage and promote close partnership with concemed civil
society organizations and other service providers in order to sustain an enabling environment
for participatory planning, budgeting and implementation of the OHSS related programs and

projects.

SEC. 14. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the Distence Learning
Program of the DepEd. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation of the
OIISS shall be included in the DepEd’s budget in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Aci, the DepEd, in consultation with the DILG and the UP - Open
Educational System, shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - if any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or

modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,


FACT SHEET
House Bit! No.__6 086

(in substitution of HBs 524, 648, 1524, 2343 & 3430)

OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM ACT

introduced by REPS. REVILLA, ANGARA, SYJUCO, LAGMAN & CASTELO

Committee Referral: COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION & CULTURE (Primary)
Committee Chairperson. REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO ill

OBJECTIVE :

© To provide equal opportunities for adults and children of high school age who are
out of school to avail of free open high schoo! education through the distance
learning modality

SALIENT PROVISIONS:

. Establishes the Open High School System (OHSS) as part of the Department of
Education's alternative secondary education program

* Covers all youth and adults who have finished elementary education and high
school qualifiers under the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT)

* Adopts the National Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine
Secondary Schools Learning Competencies (PSSC)

* Recruits teachers and support personnel involved in the OHSS who will be given
the following incentives

a) Teachers or “guros" or “gurong tagapatnubay” will receive incentives and
monetary compensation as determined by the Department of Education
(DepEd);

The “para guro”, “gurong kadiuan” and “tagapayong pansamahan’ will receive
honoraria to be arranged with the local schoo! board; and

b}

©) Appropriate training programs will be extended to the “guro", “gurong
tagapatnubay”, “para guro’, “gurong kadiuan” and “tagapayong pansamahan’”

. Encourages the DepEd, the UP — Open Educational System and the DILG to enter
into a Memorandum of Agreement that specifies their respective roles to ensure
maximum cooperation and success in the operation of the OHSS

RELATED LAWS:

* 1987 Philippine Constitution
*  Batas Pambansa Big. 232, “Education Act of 1982”