FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XW, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect and 
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to make quality 
education accessible to all. The sad fact, however, is that Philippine education is now in 
crisis. 
Out of 100 children who enroll in Grade 1, only 65 complete Grade 6 and only 43 
complete high school. The greatest drop-out rates occur between grades 1 and 3, where more 
than 65% of children are actually already over-age. For children who remain in school, only 
23% students in Grade 6 achieve reading with comprehension and only 7%, 2% and 16% of 
4th year high school students achieve the required mastery of English, Science and Math 
respective1y.l Of the college graduates who apply for jobs in the ICT sector, only 2% to 7% 
are accepted. 
These numbers clearly show that the education provided to our children has been 
substandard and incomplete. While the global norm is 12 years of basic education, Filipino 
public school children receive only 10 years of basic education. In fact, the Philippines is the 
only country in the region still following a 10-year basic education cycle. Worse, the 
competency of our youth in English, Science and Math - the core subjects crucial for 
communication and competition - have been impaired by our bias for English as a medium 
of learning, even as the mother tongue or first language has been proven to be the best 
medium of learning all over the world, based on UNESCO findings over the last two decades. 
Average class sizes in elementary and high school in the Philippines are 55% and 80% 
larger than the international average. These averages further hide wide disparities across the 
country. Our education spending of 2.5-3% is far below global standards of 56% of GNP 
and, with only 74% allocated to MOOE, is not enough to ensure the provision of inputs that 
are critical to the teaching-learning process. Despite the fact that the single most influential 
factor determining how well schools perfom and students learn is the quality and 
performance of teachers, there are no measures in place which will ensure the continuing 
updating and development of teachers. 
Clearly now is the time to put Philippine education back on track. Thus, this bill 
seeks to identify strategic education reforms aimed at specific quality and quantity targets for 
each stage of education. Access to quality elementary education is widened by requiring the 
use of the mother tongue as a mode of instruction in the early years of elementary schooling, 
' Department of Education data for 2005-2006. 


investing in teacher training so this can be done effectively, and providing nutrition 
interventions that will help young children overcome the health problems that hinder them 
from attending and completing their education. Access to quality and relevant high school 
education is improved by establishing a two-track curriculum that will equip students for 
either academic or business pursuits. Basic education is expanded to a full twelve (12) years 
and pre-school is made universal and compulsory. To further ensure that quality outcomes 
benchmarked to international norms are achieved, this bill provides for intensive in-service 
teacher training especially in the sciences and mathematics. 
Education is a building blocks system. Employability cannot be assured if college 
education is flawed. College outcomes cannot be fied if high school education is flawed. 
High school outcomes cannot be improved if elementary school fundamentals are lacking. 
Any authentic attempt to reform our education system must therefore begin at the lowest 
levels and work upwards. There can be no shortcuts. 
As a basic right, each child should have access to quality education. Quality education 
provides each child with a fair and equal opportunity to a secure future, which is in turn a 
prerequisite to our future as a nation. The reforms needed to address the educational gaps we 
are now facing requires a long-term engagement. If we aspire to see the results and reforms 
delivered, it is incumbent upon us to take the initial step now. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROUS 
AN ACT 
MANDATING ATTAINMENT OF GLOBALLY COMPEmTVE EDUCATION OUTCOMES, 
ADOPTING AN OMNIBUS EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM, IDENTIFYING FOR 
THAT 
PURPOSE 
THE 
STRATEGIC 
COMPONENTS 
OF 
SUCH 
PROGRAM, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of rhe Phihppines in 
Congress assem bIe& 
CHAPTER 1 
GENERAL. PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Omnibus Education 
Reform Act of 2008 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the primacy of basic 
education to secure the future of the youth and to achieve the development of our nation. 
Towards this end, it is hereby declared a policy of the State to establish and maintain a more 
responsive system of education designed to ensure that education outcomes benchmarked to 
international standards in basic education are achieved, specifically that every child be 
literate and numerate by the third year of elementary school; that every child have a solid 
foundation in Math and Science by the last year of elementary school; that every child be 
proficient in English and Filipino by the second year of high school; and that every high 
school graduate will have the comoetencies to uursue a hieher degree of learning or he 
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prepared to enter the world of work by establishing a two-track secondary education 
program that allows for both academic and practical fields. 
In pursuance to the State’s mandate under Article XIV, Section 2(1) of the 1987 
Constitution to establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate and integrated system 
of education relevant to the needs of the people and society, the State shall give priority to 
educational reforms that address gaps in the country’s education program by establishing a 
twelve (12) year basic education system in recognition of the global norm; investing in 
teacher updating, training and specialization to ensure the quality of teaching in the country; 
institutionalizing the use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction for young 
school children and adopting nutritional and other cost-effective interventions that will 
ensure the enrollment in and retention of young children in the first three years of 
schooling. 
The State also declares as a policy the imperative to broaden access of the youth to 
quality education through appropriate prioritization of education spending in order to ensure 
that inputs critical to the teaching and learning process are provided for. 
SECTION 3. Coverage. - The strategic education reform program established by this 
Act shall be applicable to all public and private schools nationwide with primary and 
secondary education programs. 
SECTION 4. Strategic Education Reform Program. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
enactment of this Act, Department of Education, through the Secretary, in consultation with 
the appropriate government agencies and experts in the field of education management and 
administration, shall formulate a ten (10) year operational education investment plan that 
will achieve the mandatory targets identified in Section 2 above through the use of the 
education reform program components set forth in Chapter 2 hereinafter. 
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CHAPTER 2 
STRATEGIC EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM COMPONENTS 
SECTION 5. Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction. - The mother tongue or first 
language shall be used as the medium of instruction for Grades 1, 2 and 3 for all subjects. 
Filipino and English shall be taught as separate subjects. 
As used in this Act, mother tongue shall refer to the language first learned by the 
child and customarily used at home. 
SECTION 6. School-Feeding Program. - The implementation of an in-school direct 
feeding program shall henceforth be mandatory for Grades 1 and 2 in all public schools 
located in food poor provinces and food poor municipalities as identified by the National 
Nutrition Council. The School-Feeding Program shall be implemented by the Department of 
Education as the lead agency, together with the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development and the Local Government Unit concerned. 
All public schools shall be encouraged to continue the implementation of the in- 
school feeding program beyond the required Grade levels to sustain the health and nutrition 
of school children. 
SECTION 7. Performance Standards. - A diagnostic test shall be conducted for every 
student at the end of Grades 3 and 6 for purposes of identiflmg those individuals who will 
require special learning assistance as they proceed to the next grade level, provided that, such 
diagnostic tests shall be designed and administered by a third-party non-governmental 
consortium or organization of experts in the field of education, to be identified or organized 
by the President for this purpose. The diagnostic tests shall measure performance standards 
in conformity with the following guidelines: 
(1) Every student, having completed Grade 3, shall be reading independently based on 
international reading tests and be numerate ; 
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(2) Every student, having completed Grade 6, shall be reading independently in 
English and Filipino, with comprehension, and have solid science and math 
competencies; 
SECTION 8. Twelve (12) Years of Basic Education. The Department of Education 
shall prescribe a twelve (12) year basic education curriculum for all public and private 
schoolchildren nationwide, including the number of years to be assigned to the elementary 
and high school levels, to be implemented on the sixth year of the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Revision of Secondary School Curriculum. - All high school institutions 
shall employ a curriculum, duly approved by the Department of Education, designed to 
ensure that every student will be provided an opportunity for either qualifying for university 
education or being prepared for the world of work. The curriculum for the early years of 
high schooi shall be aimed to reinforce the Science, Math, English, and Filipino 
competencies of the student. Thereafter, a two-track curriculum, duly approved by the 
Department of Education, shall be used for the latter years of high school. There shall be 
integrated in this two-track curriculum various elective courses which will equip the student 
with the knowledge and skills to meet hidher more advanced academic goals or work goals, 
such as but not limited to business, agribusiness, information technology and other 
specialized fields, provided however, that the Regional Offices of the Department of 
Education shall certify that the business or trade-oriented elective courses offered by 
secondary schools within their jurisdiction are relevant and valuable to the respective local 
economies and will provide the student an opportunity for gainful employment. 
SECTION 10. Teacher Qualifications, Education and Development - 
A. Licensure Examinations. - A certification of proficiency in English shall be 
mandatory for all applicants for the Teachers Licensure Examination, provided 
that, all teachers with a license duly issued by the Professional Regulation 
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Commission at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall be required to show the 
same certification of proficiency in English as a requirement for any promotion, 
position upgrading or change of assignment or post. 
B. In-service Training. - All primary school teachers who handle classes for Grades 1 
to 3 shall undergo an intensive teacher training program which will focus on 
teaching methods using the mother tongues as medium of instruction. An in- 
service training program to upgrade the quality of English, Science and Math 
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teaching shall be completed by all Non-Majors teaching English, Science and 
Math in high school within the next five (5) years. 
Thereafter, all primary 
and secondary school teachers involved in the 
teaching of science, math and specialized subjects shall undergo a continuous teacher 
training program that concentrates on their field of specialization and elective courses 
handled once every five (5) years. 
The results of the foregoing training programs and examination requirements 
shall also be the basis for any promotion and amount of teaching load to be given. 
C. Hiring of Part-time Teachers. - The Department of Education, within sixty (60) 
days from the implementation of this Act, shall provide the mechanisms for hiring 
of part-time secondary school teachers qualified to teach in Science and Math 
which will implemented as part of this Act. 
SECTION 11. Compulsory Year of Pre-School Education. - The Department of 
Education, in consultation with other government agencies and experts in the field of 
education administration, shall develop and implement a comprehensive plan and budget 
which will make attainment of critical readiness-for-school indicators among children 
entering Grade 1 universal and compulsory beginning the sixth year from the effectivity of 
this Act. Towards attaining this goal, the Department shall work with local governments and 
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other community-based organizations to universalize the population coverage of a 
compulsory year of pre-school education. 
Pre-school center teachers shall undergo training in order to teach reading and 
writing using the mother tongues as the medium of instruction. 
CHAPTER 3 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM 
SECTION 12. Schedule of Implementation. The implementation of the strategic 
education reform components identified in Chapter 2 of this Act shall be programmed so as 
to achieve the specific quality targets embodied in Section 2 above within ten (10) years from 
the effectivity of this Act, provided that the following quantitative outcomes shall be 
accomplished within ten (IO) years: 
(1) Grades 1-6 cohort survival rate of 83%; 
(2) Grade 6 to lSt 
year high school transition rate of 99%; 
(3) High school cohort survival rate of 85% 
(4) Overall completion rate, from Grade 1 to last year of high school, of 70%. 
SECTION 13. Education Planning and Budgeting - 
A. The Department of Education shall henceforth formulate rolling budget plans with 
continuous five (5) year planning horizons, consistent with both quantity and qualitative 
target outcomes, enabled by multi-year budget ceilings established by the Department of 
Budget and Management, Department of Finance and the National Economic Development 
Authority which will provide for a specific annual increase in the education budget ceiling, 
allocating majority of the increase to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and 
Capital Outlay. 
B. The Commission on Higher Education shall earmark such amount as the Chairman 
may determine for the following priority areas: 
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(1) Science and Math courses; 
(2) Engineering courses: and 
(3) Education courses. 
The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education shall also 
develop a system of matching grants in order to leverage increased and focused local school 
board spending toward outcomes and programs set forth in Sections 2,6,8,9 and 10 above as 
well as reward quality parent voluntarism in communities. 
SECTION 14. Reportorial Requirements. - The Secretary of Education shall submit an 
annual report of its performance on the implementation of this Act to the Office of the 
President and to the Congressional Oversight Committee hereinafter created, provided that, 
the report shall have been subjected to an independent validation and evaluation by the 
consortium or organization identified in Section 7 above. It shall also submit all other reports 
and information as may be required by the Congressional Oversight Committee. 
The annual report shall contain the status of the following: 
(1) Reading and Numeracy skills of Grade 3 pupils; 
(2) Science and Math competencies of graduating elementary school students; 
(3) English and Filipino proficiency of 2nd year high school students; 
(4) Tertiary school acceptance rates of graduating high school students; 
(5) Year to year cohort survival rate of elementary and high school students; 
(6) Such other information or data that may be required by the Office of the 
President or the Congressional Oversight Committee. 
The Department of Education shall also keep and maintain records and a database 
containing the above-enumerated information, which shall be made readily available to the 
public. 
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SECTION 15. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education, in consultation 
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other relevant government 
agencies, shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of 
this Act. 
SECTION 
16. Congressional 
Oversight 
Committee. - For the effective 
implementation of this Act, there shall be created a Congressional Oversight Committee, 
hereinafter referred to as the Congressional Oversight Committee for Education Reforms, to 
be composed of four (4) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
which shall meet bi-annually to oversee implementation of this Act. The Congressional 
Oversight Committee for Education Reforms shall be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of 
the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture and the House Committee on Basic 
Education and Culture. 
CHAPTER 4 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SECTION 17. Appropriations. For the initial implementation of this Act, the amount 
of Nineteen Billion Pesos (Php 19,000,000,000.00) 
shall be appropriated to the Office of the 
Secretary of Education, in addition to the budget of the Department of Education. Such 
amount as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the ten (10) year education 
investment plan formulated under Section 4 hereof and for the continued implementation of 
this Act shall thereafter be provided for in the General Appropriations Act, consistent with 
the budget plan created pursuant to Section 12 of this Act. 
SECTION 18. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this 
Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other section or provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
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Approved, 
SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 20. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from irs 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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