Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6032

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The British School Manila (BSM), an educational institution owned and operated
by the British Education, Inc., has been continuously operating in the Philippines since
its establishment in 1976. From its humble beginnings of two (2) classrooms with 36
students, it now has a sprawling campus in the Fort Bonifacio Global City with about a
thousand students composed of thirty-eight (38) nationalities, including Filipinos.

Since its founding, it has been the vision of BSM to deliver the highest standard
of education in the Philippines for British children and for English-speaking children of
Filipinos and other nationalities. BSM is well-known worldwide for its highest quality of
British education, following an adapted form of the English National Curriculum from
Nursery to Year 9 designed to inspire learning, which is both relevant and flexible. Its
students are groomed and prepared for end of Key Stage in Primary, International
General Certificate of Secondary Education [IGCSE] at age 16, and the International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at age 18.

After more than four (4) decades of its existence, operation and service in this
country, it is high time that the Philippine Government, through Congress, extends its
formal recognition to BSM as a distinguished educational institution of international
character by enacting a law to that effect.

Hence, the immediate passing of this bill is earnestly sought.

Koro

KABAYAN Partylist
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 6032

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE BRITISH SCHOOL MANILA AS AN EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER, GRANTING CERTAIN
PREROGATIVES CONDUCIVE TO ITS GROWTH AS SUCH, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Official Recognition. — The British School Manila, herein referred to as
the “School”, operated by the British Education, Inc., is hereby declared and officially
recognized as an educational institution of international character authorized to operate
educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and
recognized educational policies through its international accreditations from institutions
such as Council of International Schools (CIS) and the International Baccalaureate
Office (IBO), which confer international recognition to stakeholders all over the world.
The school shall be subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations and other
issuances issued by the government and to such limitations as the Department of
Education (DepEd) may impose.

SEC. 2. Members of the School. - The school shall be comprised of the school
personnel or management, students and their parents and/or guardians, whether of the
Philippine or foreign nationality.

SEC. 3. Governing Body.— The School shall be governed by its board of trustees also
known as the Council of Trustees, herein referred to as the “Council’, elected in
accordance with the corporation code of the Philippines and its corporate charter;
Provided, that, eighty percent (80%) of its trustees must be residents of the Philippines
and forty percent (40%) of which must be reserved for Filipinos; Provided, further, that
the Department of Education shall determine the qualifications of the trustees.

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SEC. 4.Grant of Prerogatives. — To enable the School to continue carrying out its
educational program, improve its standard of instruction and meet the special needs of
its school community for quality education, it shall:

(a) Accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance with
its own eligibility standards and rules for admission and grade placement:
Provided, that theschool shall not give less priority to the citizens of the
Philippines, as its host country by ensuring that no single alien nationality
shall consist more than thirty percent (30%) of the entire student population in
a given school year, as stated in the records of the school;

(b) Be managed and administered by a Head of School, who shall possess
qualifications prescribed by the Council and subject to the approval of the
Secretary of the Department of Education;

(c) Upon the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Education, it shall:

Determine its own curriculum;

Endeavor to promote international friendship, goodwill and
understanding among its students as well as among members of
the foreign and educational community and citizens of the
Philippines;

Establish its calendar of studies and work schedule to maximize
efficiency and maintain, enhance, improve, and promote the quality
of education or instruction it has adopted for the benefit of its
students;

Teach whatever language or languages it may deem proper;

Impose reasonable amount of fees and assessments in accordance
with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of
Education.

(d) Uphold standards of education compatible, if not superior with those obtaining
in similar schools of recognized international standing;

(e) Engage and support the host country through meaningful and reflective
service and provide an atmosphere that creates deep understanding of
current issues within the cultural context; and

(f) Employ qualified teaching and management personnel selected by the
Council either locally or abroad, from the Philippines or other nationalities, in
accordance with the qualification standards provided by the Department of

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Education: Provided, that fair wages and equal renumeration for work of
equal value without distinction from Filipinos or foreign hired shall be
implemented. Such foreign personnel are exempt from laws that impose
nationality restrictions on control and administration of educational
institutions, except laws that have been or will be enacted for the protection of
employees: Provided, that such exception shall not be extended to their
liability from income taxes.

SEC. 5. Supervision and regulation of the Department of Education. —
Notwithstanding the recognition and prerogatives under this act, the British School
Manila shall be under the supervision and regulation of the Department of Education
and shall adhere to basic laws, and rules and regulations of the Department of
Education governing international or foreign schools.

SEC.6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.— Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Education or his
representative, the School's administration, representatives from the parents of the
School's students, and representative from private educational associations in
coordination with the other government agencies concerned shall issue such rules as
may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — |f any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act is
subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations, or parts
thereof, inconsistent with this decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. —- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette, or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.

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