Introduces: vy henerable Snaron

EXPLANATORY NOTE

inequality pervades iA our society Secause opportunities are unfairly d’scributad.
And ro provide equiliirivm in oppertur ties ‘7 a social spectra, education is being giver the

thrust ~ sald te be the great equalizer and veiscce whee! of social machinery,

But beyord tre discourse of
cality because:

1B emphasis on educatien “2¢ sq

tes v0 a produ:

Bee rac

cf concepts ane theories Dui

Ts Tere tran just:

nsioemat en and em, duais and commu

For this reason, if the government is serious in izs commitment to sural develoement
ana empowerment, a fundamenta, ster cc be taken is ensuring eauitabie access tc
education in the countryside. Statistics have consistently dernonstrated the widening gap
between urban and tural development, anc concamitantly, poverty incidence. The poverty
incidence victimizes a bulk of the agricult..ra: sector who mostly reside in the rural areas
resulting tc a vicious cycie of worsening deprivation, marginalizacion na
underdevelopment,

Education can aiso be used in ensuring sustzinapie agriculture: preductivi tne
country for the coming decades by creating a7. educational system applicable and Fitting 10
agricultural communities. As suck, t-e your are net keen In taking professicns in the
agriccitural sector. Proof of this is the awicdting figures of enrolment and numer of
gracuates of apricuttural courses. “Te zireacy low figures of enrollees decrease
@ academic years commence, -esuiting 10 6'sappointingiy few graduates of
agricuttara: courses.

nermare as

Traditional adux

Yional systems neve ong >
e rural communities nec ax acu

en speckled throughout the country
+ suited to their environmen: anc

ore



realities. Hence, this bill proposes to promote Rural Farm $chaols as an alternative delivery
mode of secondary education without sacrificing quality of education.

a parallel learning system and an alternative d

ne Rural Farm Schoo! shall
mode of secondary education, It is a facilitative and experiential learning on the core
Subjects of cocial sciences, numeracy, literacy with focus on agriculture and patterned after
the needs of rural, ageicultural communities. it nas fou academic years with the last year
being integrative learning with emphasis cn farm entrepreneurship to encourage the youth
co become local entrepreneurs in thelr respective rural, agec

‘the reaching methodology provides 2 flexible alternative to the rigid structure of
formal education. In the Rural Farm Scheel, students engage 19 an alternating tra)
cé hame and schoot period. The student may go te learning centers as scheduled by the
scnoo! to learn concepts and theories or the students may obtain modules from the tutors
and take it home subject to the mor! g and assessment of the tutors. The other half af
the cycle #s the home period wherein the students shall spend half of the educative process
at home as they work in theic own farms or in other farms or enterprises to apply and
practice the academic principles learned from school

In consonance with the State's policy to provide free secondary education, the
students enrolled in public Rural Farm Schcols will not pay any tuition fee, Having minimeat
guerhead expenses because of the flexible methodology and having no tuition fee lesser the
Poancial burden on the parents especially since abject poverty is prevaient in the rural
pocket sides.

ned in furtherance of attaining <aciat equity. the children and grandchildren of CARP
neneficiaries are given preference in admission should the school exceed ts aliowabie
cumber of enrollees, They shall likewise be exempted from paying tuition fees in priate
caver led Rural Farm Schools, Agrarian Reform Communities, on the other hand shalt be
given priority In the site setection and establ/shment of Rural Farm Schoois,

Tne Rural Farm School is, thus, 2 multipronged attack against poverty, inequity
agriculturat decline, and economic constriction in the rural areas Firstly, & provides
opportunities for and access to learning, at minimal! or zero cost, to the rurat youtn,
equipping, them with appropriate knowiedge and practical skills that can be readily appiied
vn their environment, Secondly, it entices the rural youth ta engage in agricultura: Courses
‘and/or enterprises leading to agriculturat viability and sustainability, Accordingly, these wi
warm the social and economic engines of the countryside, lessening poverty
empowering the ural communities.

incidence and

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is fervently sought.

Se
ATTY. SHARON S. GARIN
Repeasenpayie

Aambis-GWa Party List


introduced by Honorable Sharon $. Garin

AN ACT
PROMOTING RURAL FARA SCHOOL
AS AS ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MODE
OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

et enacted by the Senate and the mause of 4epresentatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled.

Section 1. Title. - This Act stall be known. Rusa. Sarne. Serwols Act of 2024,

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. ~:t is a decared peiiey of tae State te protect and premere
the righ: of all citizens x0 quality educat'c- at a. eveis anc take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to all. Further te this, the State shail establish, maintain. and
sport a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of
the people and society and encourage non-formal, informal and indigenous jear
systems, as weli as self-learning, independent and out-of-schoo! study programs particuerly
‘those that respond to community reeds.

The State shall likewise promcte sustainable agricultural productivity an:
deveicement by empowering the human capita! .n tre countryside through access to
avenues cf learning sulted to the neads arc reaities of the rural, agriculturai commun’

2 furtherance of the prircizes of seoa d socia’ equity, the State sraz
“cyige tne necessary support co tre sereve'aas of che Comprehensive Agrarian 3eform
Srog-am: (CARP), Including but nor imiec te t7e provision of access to a broad range of
ecucatiorai opportunities vo their chi.den.

wrice



SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.

For purposes of this Act, the following terms shal! be

defined as follows:

3}

2

Section 4. Rural Farm Schools as Alcerni

“Alternative Delivery Mode” refers 10 the nontraditional educazicn orcgram
recognized by the Dapactmen: of Education (DapEd) which applies 2 fiexibie learning
piilosopny and 4 curricular delivery scogram that includes non-formal ara info"ma
sources of knowledge and skills. Av ahernative delivery mode may inciuce the use
of facilitater-zidea and interactive se7rszrectional print and audio-based ‘earning
materials, video tapes, face-to-face st-uctured learning groups, semi-structured and
unscructured discussions, ene-cr-cre tutorials, study groups and sefresrning
groups, demenstration sessicns, nome y'sits, mentoring and remediation.

“Rura’ Farm Schoo!” refers zo a gara.e learning system and an a'tesnacive ae.ive-v
meee of secondary acucetion.

acleers of sosial sciercas

recneci after she needs 0% -,

“Pubic Rural Feri Seno
Seversment Gr its politica! subdivisic:
“Private Rural Farm School” refers to Rural Farm Schools operated by private
entities, non-government organizations or farm associations. These are schools
which are not funded by the Government or its political subdivisions.

“Tutors” refers to the facilitators o* instructors who comprise the teaching staff of
the Rural farm Schools. They are speciaiists ix their own fields of endeavor ané who
facilitate the educative process

“CARP Beneficiaries” refers to fermers or their kin who had receives Certificates o:
Land Ownership (CLOA) or Emancipation Patents under Republic Act No. 65
amenced, known as “The CAR?
“Agrarian Reform Community” ce‘e-
icai mass of agrarian reform ene
nttepransurship” refers nter-mingling cf finance, busines
agrcuituee In sezting into operaticn cr “notion a business venture Invelved in the
erecuction of agricultera, cormmoe ies or enterprises,

“Fam a

2 Delivery Mode of Secondary Education. -

Rural Farm Schocls (RFS) are hereby creaies ana established as an Alternative Getivery

Mode

of Secondary Education. The Aura Farm Schoo!s shall be duly recognized and

supervised by the Depariment of Education. i: shall nave the following components

ej Curriculum and Yeaching Methseo‘ogy

The Rural Farm School sysiem shai: nave a curricular programm of four (4) aeaaemic
years fer secondary education, .t shai be an experiential learning with a:tarnating
ining cycle of home and schoo! periog. Tha curricular program should inciude the
social sciences, numeracy, iiteracy, with focus on agriculture, including out not
Emited to farming, crop production, saima: husbandry, and aquaculture, and other
discipiines as ray be prescr'peq by the Separtment of Education.

The Rural farm School shalt apply a flexiz'e learning phitesophy whieh may include
the use of facilitator-aiged anc ins 2 salf-insteuctiona? print and audio-vased
earning materiais, video tapes, ce structured learning groups. semi-

wired and unstructured discussions, one-or-o7e tutorials, study groups and self-


fearning groups, demonstration sessions, nome visits, mentoring and remeciaticn

and such other methoes as may ce srescrived oy the Department of Education.

Tne Rura! Farm Schooi may hoid casses at the iesrning center on the subjcets

oMered to comprise the schco! ceriad of the alternating tralting cycle. The Rura
Farm Schoo: may also chagse te ster ‘earning modules for the students x
ome and study at their own tine sublect 16 paticdic mocitaring ane assess:
the tetors.

rece

wee

The students shall likewise spend na'f of the ecucative process at home as they work
‘© their own farms or ia other farms or enterprises to apply and practice the
acadernic principles iearnec fram scnoc’.

Department of Sducation s-21 oresctibe guicelines on tre classes and/or
earning schedule to be affe-ec by dn: Fe-ms Scheels.

3 Eligible Students
Cnilaren with ages petween twese (77) end eighteen (18) years old, male and
femaie, may enroll in the Rural for tneir secondary educatior

cj Tutors

The tutors of the Qurai Farm Scrce: sha: pa specialists in their fields of erdeaver.
They shall act as teachers, guicarce counselors, rural developers, \iveiihood pro!
propenents, marketing specialists, aca/or erelect consultants. The cutcrs shai!
establish a working parmnerstip with the parents by conducting parent-tutor
dialogues and parent worksheps.

Unless a special law provides a higher saiary, the teaching staff of a pubsic Aura: Farm
School shail receive a basic salary zs prescribed in Republic Act 4670 or the Magna
Carta for Public Schoo! Teachers and other ralated laws and the teaching staff of 3
private Rural Farm Schoo! shall receive a basic salary not lower than the prescribad
minimum wage for the locality

} Schoo! Director

ery Rusval Farm School sho chow! Director te oversee its operations and
management. The Senso! Dir xesked to facilitate the wters’ participation *r
srotessicnal develoament activities ‘scx.e’ng technical skils training and extension.
services ay the Departmen: of Department of Agriculture, and
Department of Agrarian Aefern. Tre Seno: Director is likewise tasked te ensure
ar the curricular program 's gropery wxpiementec and sufficlan: and adequate
educational resources are avetiavie anc accessible to the students,

e) Tuition Fee

In adherence to Republic Acc 6655 or the “ree Secondary Education Act, students
enrolied in public Rurai Farm Schools shail be free from payment of tuition and otner
schoo! fees, except fees relate to membership in the school community suen as
fentification cards, student organ:zaciens and publication which may be coliected.

Private Rural Farm Schoels shali set a -%
Department of Educ

imal tuition fee subject to tre pprova
ni Prov.oed, that relatives of CARP beneficiacies up to



third degree of consanguinity in the descending line shall be exempt from payment
of said tuition fees.

ff) Learning Center
There shall be an adequate, secure, and physically accessible schoolhouse which
shall function as a meeting place and learning center for the tutors and students to
interact. Students shall access their modules or instructional materials at the
schoolhouse.

g) Community Partnership

The Rural Farm Schools shall establish productive partnership with the local
community, including groups interested in the achievement of the goals and
objectives of this Act, and in providing financial assistance, technological transfer,
and extension services.

Section S. Farm Entrepreneurship. The fourth and last academic year in the Rural Farm
School educational system shall focus on integrative learning across all subject disciplines in
the curriculum with emphasis on farm entrepreneurship theory and practice and its
promotion as a tool in cultivating local entrepreneurs, revitalizing rural economies and
repopulating rural communities.

Section 6. Rural Farm School in Every Province. - Within one (1) year upon formulation of
the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act, the Department of Education shall
establish at least one (1) Rural Farm School in every province in the country.

Section 7. Priority to CARP Beneficiaries and Agrarian Reform Communities. — Relatives of
the beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) up to third degree
‘of consanguinity in the descending line shall be given priority in admission when the Rural
Farm School cannot accommodate all of those applying for enrollment.

Without prejudice to the provisions of Section Six {6) hereof, Agrarian Reform Communities
shall be given priority in the site selection and establishment of Rural Farm Schools
whenever possible or applicable.

Section 8. Skills Tralning and Extension Support. - Department of Education, Department
of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Reform shall provide continuous technical
skills training and provision of extension materials including but not limited to books,
student workbooks, teaching session guides, and other materials or equipment on the
subjects offered, and other extension services to the tutors of Rural Farm Schools.

Section 9. Quallty Assurance. The Department of Education shall institutionalize high
standards of quality assurance in Rural Farm Schools. This shall involve prescribing
guidelines and policies on the operation and management of Rural Farm Schools as well as
basic curricular content to ensure the credibility and academic integrity of Rural Farm
‘Schools.

Section 10. Accreditation of Rural Farm Schools. — The Department of Education shall set
the requirements of accreditation of Rural Farm Schools and accredit those that meet the
prescribed requirements. Rural Farm Schools may not operate unless accredited by the
Department of Education.


The Department of Education may withdraw or downgrade the accreditation of a
Rural Farm School if it fails to maintain the standards set for its accreditation.

Section 11. School Monitoring and Evaluation. - The Department of Education shall
conduct regular monitoring and evaivation to determine continuing compliance with the
requirements on accreditation status of the Rural Farm School and to determine that the
Rural Farm Schools are adhering to the standards of quality assurance prescribed by the
Department of Education

Section 12. Tax tncentives. - All gifts and donations for the benefit of the Rural Farm
School, for its support and maintenance or for aid to any of its students shall be tax-exempt
and shall be an allowable deduction from the gross-income of the donors. For the purpose
of income taxation, the schoo! shall be exempt from payment of all taxes, fees, assessments
and other charges of the Government, its branches and subdivisions. It shall likewise be
exempt from taxes and duties on any equipment, books, articles, goods or services it may
import from abroad. The Farm School shall also be exempt from the payment of real
Property tax on the property actually, exclusively and directly used by it for educational
purposes.

Section 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education,
Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Reform shall formulate and
prescribe the Implementing Rules and Regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act.

Section 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act is
hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act to be made
available within one (1) year from the approval of this Act. Thereafter, continuing
appropriations shall be appropriated in subsequent General Appropriations Acts: Provided,
That the appropriation, for the purposes of this Act, shall not be reduced by Congress below
the amount appropriated for the previous year and, after approval, shall be automatically
and regularly released.

Section 15, Separabillty Clause. - ~ If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

Section 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shalt take effect immediately following. its
Publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes
first.

Approved,