CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRE; ITATIVES
House Bill No. 1884

Introduced by Representatives
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO and DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On November 23, 1990, the barangay-level Total Development and Protection of
Children Act was signed into law. This mandates the establishment of a day care center
in every barangay.

The rationale of the enforcement of this law stems from the fact that a major
contributing factor to our poor quality of education is the lack of preparation for our
schooling. The gradual acceptance of pre-school in the country today underscores the
importance of pre-school education.

Child educators agree that starting educators at pre-school age has substantial
benefits to the learner and to society. By contributing to better academic performance,
pre-schooling helps reduce the number of repeaters, hence we cut back on educational
expenditure.

Teachers in other levels will be compelled to continuously undergo training so
they could ably respond to the needs of better-prepared students entering elementary.
With improved performance of teachers, we would be offering better quality education
to our students. This, together with enhanced technical/vocational education, will allow
us to generate a more educated labor force that will gear us to be more globally
competitive.

GLORIA Wea ARROYO vosoroaeldaen ARROYO

Second District Pampanga Second District Camarines Sur


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESI TIVES
Howse ilo, 164

Introduced by Representatives
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO and DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Preschool Education
Act”.

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
provide equal opportunities for all children to avail of free and compulsory preschool
education that effectively promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional and skills
stimulation and values formation to sufficiently prepare them for formal elementary
schooling. This Act shall apply to elementary school system, being the first stage of
compulsory formal education.

Preschool education is vital to the academic and technical development of the
Filipino child for it is the period when the young mind’s absorptive capacity for learning
is at its sharpest.

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

a) “BEE” refers to the Bureau of Elementary Education

b) “DepEd” refers to the Department of Education

c) “Preschool education” shall be understood in this Act to mean one (1) year of
schooling before Grade |, to be made available and compulsory to all five (5)-
year old children

“Preschool children” refers to five (5)-year old children enrolled in preschool
education.

“Other school fees” refers to those charges which cover other necessary costs
supportive of instruction including, but not limited to, medical and dental,
athletics, library and laboratory fees.

“Tuition fee” refers to the charge representing costs of instructions, training
and other related activities and for the pupils’ use of the instruction and
training facilities.

d

e

f)

Sec.4. Institutionalization of Preschool Education. - Preschool education is
hereby institutionalized as part of basic education and shall be made mandatory for all


five (5)-year old children. It shall be implemented on a staggered basis starting on the
school year immediately following the effectivity of this Act.

Prior to the compliance with the mandatory preschooling of five (5)-year old
children as provided for under this Act, the national government shall continue to
support the day care program under Republic Act No. 8980, otherwise known as the
Early Childhood Care and Development Act, subject to the financial assistance to be
provided by the local government units and the technical assistance and the
accreditation system to be extended by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, in consultation with the DepEd.

On the third year following the effectivity of this Act, no child shall be admitted to
Grade | without having attended at least one (1) year of preschool education, subject to
the qualifications and guidelines to be promulgated and prescribed by the DepEd.

SEC.5, Implementing Agency. - The authority to regulate the organization,
operation and/or implementation of the preschool education program shall be vested
upon the DepEd, through the BEE.

SEC.6. Duties, Powers and Functions. - The DepEd shall have the following
duties, powers and functions:

a) To oversee and supervise the implementation of the preschool education
program throughout the country;
To authorize the opening of preschool education classes in all public and
private schools, including the registration and accreditation of private
preschool institutions and order closure of the same if found violating DepEd
rules and regulations and/or found operating without a permit of certificate
of recognition;
To develop the curriculum for preschool education consistent with the
universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation, and to
periodically review such for purposes of upgrading;
To conceive, develop and extend a regular training program to preschool
education teachers to ensure constant updating of their knowledge in modern
trends, methodologies and concepts on early childhood education;
To prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation of
teachers who will handle the preschool education program; and
To formulate necessary guidelines and regulatory standards in connection
with the operation of private preschool institutions.

b)

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d)

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SEC. 7. Special Training for Preschool Teachers. - The DepEd shall prescribe the
standards and qualifications for preschool teachers and afford for their necessary
special training.

SEC.8. Salary of a Preschool Teacher. - A public preschool teacher shall receive
a monthly basic salary based on the compensation of public school teachers under the
Salary Standardization Law, as amended, in addition to other benefits prescribed by law.

In the case of a private preschool teacher, he/she shall receive the salary and
other benefits prescribed under the Labor Code of the Philippines.


SEC.9. Free Preschool Education. - The public preschool education program
shall be free from tuition and other school fees.

Tuition and other school fees imposed by private preschool institutions shall be
subject to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the DepEd.

SEC.10. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Education shall immediately include
in the Department's program the operationalization of the compulsory preschool
education, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current
appropriations for preschool education of the Department. Thereafter, such sums as
may be necessary for the continued implementation of the preschool program shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC.11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, in consultation with
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Budget and
Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and both Houses of
Congress, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC.12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SEC.13, Repealing Clause. - Pertinent provisions of Republic Act No, 8980 and
all other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,