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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL’ NO. 7

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize the open technical-vocational school system in
the country.

Article XIV, Sec. 1 of the Constitution provides:

“Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps
to make such education accessible to all.”

Access to quality education is a basic right of every citizen. However, most of
our youths, prefer to earn a living at an early age rather than go to school because of

poverty.

The data of the National Statistical Coordination Board show that the drop-out
rate for primary education increased from 8.6% in 2006 to 9% in 2007. This is
collaborated by the records of the World Bank which show that as of 2008, there are
961,298 primary children who are out of school. On the other hand, the Social Weather
Stations (SWS) Survey shows that as of September 2010, a total of 18.1% or 3.4 million
families nationwide claimed to have gone hungry and that 9.2 million families
considered themselves poor.

‘The educational system in the country has been besieged with shortages both in
classrooms and teachers. In the previous school year, there was an estimated 60,000
shortage in classrooms as evidenced by a substantial student-teacher ratio which
stands at 50:1. This problem has to be addressed.

This proposed measure seeks to provide alternative means of addressing our
present problem in education through the institutionalization of the Open Technical-
Vocational School System. Its purpose is to provide flexible educational opportunities
for the out-of-school-youths, unemployed, underemployed or differently-abled youths
through the access of internet. It will also equip the students with skills for productive
work and prepare them to actively participate in community development and will enable
the government to meet its “Education for All” agenda.

The institutionalization of the Open Technical-Vocational School System will give
priority to those who cannot afford formal education because of poverty and will take
into consideration the economic viability skills of the particular area or region.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN
THE COUNTRY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Open Technical-
Vocational School System Act.”

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Towards this end, the
State shall provide flexible educational opportunities that will enable all persons
specially the youth to overcome geographical, socioeconomic and physical constraints
in achieving relevant education.

SEC. 3. Open Technical-Vocational School System. — To carry out the
purposes of this Act, the Open Technical-Vocational School System, hereinafter
referred to as the “System,” is hereby institutionalized in accordance with the provisions
of this Act.

The System shall apply to all technical-vocational schools and all schools with
dual system education under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA). All existing programs and projects of the TESDA regarding technical-
vocational education and skills development shall form part of the curriculum of the
open technical-vocation school system.

It shall provide flexible educational opportunities to any person such as, but not
limited to, out of school youths, unemployed, underemployed and differently-abled

youths as well as adults through access to instructions, lessons and modules by the use


of internet and other multi-media approach. The distance learning components of the
System shall serve as its core.

SEC. 4. Salient Features. — The System shall be characterized by the
following features:

a) It shall use the multimedia such as internet, audio-video or print. There
shall be minimal interface with teachers particularly in courses which need hands-on
training and supervision;

b) It shall give priority to those who cannot afford education because of
poverty and geographical distance to existing technical-vocational centers;

c) The TESDA shall develop training modules that will take into consideration
the economic viability of the skills in a particular area or region; and

d) It shall be established in TESDA Centers, public schools or TESDA
accredited technical vocational schools all over the country.

SEC. 5. Age Requirement. - The System shall be open to any person from
eighteen (18) to forty-five (45) years of age who wishes to take up technical, vocational
and other short courses.

SEC.6. Procedure of Enrolment and Certification. — Any person who is
interested to enroll in a technical-vocational course shall register in the nearest testing
center of the System. Thereafter, he may access all instructional modules through the
internet or website for the particular course. Upon completion of the required modules
of the course, the student shall report to the testing center to take the required
examination in order to obtain a certification of completion.

SEC. 7. Administration and Supervision. — The Office of the Formal
Technical Vocational Education and Training (OFFTVET) of TESDA shall administer
and supervise the System. It shall perform the following additional functions:

a) Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System;

b) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the System
effective and productive;

©) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for the
integration with the System;

d) Develop and validate model instructional distance learning modules;


e)  Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of the System;

f) Recommend to the TESDA the annual budget of the System for inclusion
in the General Appropriations Act; and

9) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives
of the System.

SEC.8. Special Training for Instructors. — Instructors and training
personnel who intend to teach in the System must receive training and appropriate
education as determined by the TESDA. They shall receive benefits, privileges and
compensation consistent with the existing laws.

SEC.9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days
after the affectivity of this Act, the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, in coordination with the Chairman of the Commission on Higher
Education and the Secretary of Labor and Employment, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations for the TESDA.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations or
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12, _Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,