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

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© pace, 14 APR 2018

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Regular Session

House Bill No. 6504

Introduced by: Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As the value of education must be embedded in the minds of the youth,
this bill aims to maintain the standard of education by closely monitoring the
attendance of primary and secondary students in public and private schools.

Studies show that there is a direct correlation between good attendance
and student achievement. It goes without saying then, that a student needs to
be present in school to benefit from the academic program in its entirety.

Among a number of factors, truancy has been named as one of the
problems affecting the future of our youth. It is said that it is one of the indicator
that a young person is giving up and losing motivation to attend school.
Student absenteeism can lead to low academic achievement, school dropout,
delinquency and gang involvement

It is provided in the Constitution that the State recognizes the vital role of
the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.

Although there has been efforts and laws made to secure the attendance
of students in school there is still a need to hasten and improve the system to
ensure that the stay of students would be worth the time and money spent for
education in order to build a better and brighter tomorrow.

‘As such, the approval of this Bill is eamestly sought

Aa

REP. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA
Lone District, Bacolod City


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Regular Session

6504

House Bill No..

Introduced by: Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ENHANCE PROGRAM TO COUNTER ABSENTEEISM
IN STUDENTS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL OF EDUCATION

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Student's School
Attendance Monitoring Act of 2016”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State to
recognize the role of the youth in nation building. The youth of today must
learn the value of education since it is the key to progress not only in their own.
personal life but in the society as well.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following
terms shall refer to and/or mean as hereunder defined:

Absenteeism is the tendency to be away from school without a good
reason; chronic or frequently recurring, amounting to long duration
of absence.

Non-Attendance is the act of not being present.

Attendance is the actual school attendance of a student during the regular
class day. If present at his/her assigned school, or an activity
sponsored by the school in a regular school day.

Unexcused Absences mean missing a full or half day of school or being
tardy or absent for 30 minutes or more without a valid excuse.
Tardiness in any amount of minutes beyond the bell may result in
loss of some eligibility for attendance incentive recognitions.

Unexcused Absences include but is not limited to:

1. Missing class or school without an excused or approved reason.


2. Absences for which advance approval is necessary and was not
obtained before the absence

Truancy is the unexcused chronic absence from school
Truant means a student who misses school without permission.

Habitual Truant means a student who has been reported as truant on three
‘or more occasions in the same school year; provided that the school
has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one conference with
the parent/guardian and pupil after filing the truancy reports.

Chronic Truant means a student who has been absent from school without
a valid excuse for 10% or more of the school days in one school year,
from the date of enrollment to the current date.

Excused Absences are absences with a valid and reasonable cause
accompanied with proof. Some examples of such are the following:

A. Emergencies which include: family member who is very ill and close to
dying; student's home is lost to fire or eviction; natural disaster, a
student whose family member needs to go to the hospital; or a family
member's military deployment or return from deployment.

B, Extraordinary Educational Opportunities it must be educational in nature,
an opportunity not ordinarily available, the content and study must
be highly relevant to the student.

C. Injury or Iliness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend
class.

D. Others as may be reasonable and similar to the above mentioned.

Section 4. Analysis. There shall be analysis of existing attendance
reports in order to acquire a deeper understanding of chronic absence in
students and to help schools understand impact of chronic absence.

To counter absenteeism, it is recommended that educators:

1. Promote health awareness and living a healthy lifestyle to avoid
sickness which is considered as one of the frequent reasons of absences
among students.

2. Maintain the classroom and school environment as a fun and
enjoyable place to learn. Children spent most of their time at school as
such it must be a place they would find comfortable and conducive for
learning.

3. Inform parents about the benefit of keeping their children in school
and the importance of encouraging their children to be diligent in their
studies


4. The parents shall be immediately informed when their child/children
have reached the level absences at risk of being a chronic absentee.

5. Avoid terrorizing or scolding misbehaving pupils. Teaching them in a
diplomatic manner would be better as much as possible.

6. Avoid discrimination or harsh comments which are beyond the
proper bounds.

7. Assist students in the learning process for there are be fast learners
while some may be slower than their classmates but they must be given
the same opportunity to learn and cope up.

8. Motivate students to value education and avail the opportunity of
being able to go to school for themselves, their family and country as well.

9. Provide for a stricter system to prevent students from skipping their
classes,

10. Develop a program for attendance incentive and monitor the
absences of student as well as the causes of such absences.

Section 5. Mandatory Subjects. The teaching of the value of education
and the attendance awareness campaign or challenge shall be included as a
mandatory and integral part of the curriculum in teaching in all schools.

Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulation. The Department of
Education will promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement
this Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act

The attendance regulations require each board of education to develop,
adopt and implement policies and procedures regarding the attendance of
students, including the adoption of a definition of "unexcused absence,” and
the provision of mandated services for students with between one and nine
cumulative unexcused absences and mandated to call the attention of their
parents for those with ten or more cumulative unexcused absences.

Section 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.