Congress of the Philippines

Twelfth Congress
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9155

August 11, 2001

AN ACT INSTITUTING A FRAME WORK OF GOVERNANCE FOR BASIC EDUCATION,

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
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 "Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by providing all Filipino children a
free and compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the high school level. Such education
shall also include alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult learners. It shall be the goal of basic
education to provide them with the skills, knowledge and values they need to become caring, seIf-reliant, productive
and patriotic citizens.
The school shall be the heart of the formal education system. It is where children learn. Schools shall have a single
aim of providing the best possible basic education for all learners.
Governance of basic education shall begin at the national level it is at the regions, divisions, schools and learning
centers herein referred to as the field offices - where the policy and principle for the governance of basic education
shall be translated into programs, projects and services developed, adapted and offered to fit local needs.
The State shall encourage local initiatives for improving the quality of basic education. The State shall ensure that the
values, needs and aspirations of a school community are reflected in the program of education for the children, out-ofschool youth and adult learners. Schools and learning centers shall be empowered to make decisions on what is best
for the learners they serve.
Section 3. Purposes and Objectives. - The purposes and objectives of this Act are:
(a) To provide the framework for the governance of basic education which shall set the general directions for
educational policies and standards and establish authority, accountability and responsibility for achieving higher
learning outcomes;
(b) To define the roles and responsibilities of and provide resources to, the field offices which shall implement
educational programs, projects and services in communities they serve;
(c) To make schools and learning centers the most important vehicle for the teaching and learning of national values
and for developing in the Filipino learners love of country and pride in its rich heritage;
(d) To ensure that schools and learning centers receive the kind of focused attention they deserve and that educational
programs, projects and services take into account the interests of all members of the community;
(e) To enable the schools and learning centers to reflect the values of the community by allowing teachers/learning
facilitators and other staff to have the flexibility to serve the needs of all learners;
(f) To encourage local initiatives for the improvement of schools and learning centers and to provide the means by
which these improvements may be achieved and sustained; and
(g) To establish schools and learning centers as facilities where schoolchildren are able to learn a range of core
competencies prescribed for elementary and high school education programs or where the out-of-school youth and
adult learners are provided alternative learning programs and receive accreditation for at least the equivalent of a high
school education.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms or phrases used shall mean or be understood as
follows:
(a) Alternative Learning System -is a parallel learning system to provide a viable alternative to the existing formal
education instruction. It encompasses both the nonformal and informal sources of knowledge and skills;
(b) Basic Education - is the education intended to meet basic learning needs which lays the foundation on which
subsequent learning can be based. It encompasses early childhood, elementary and high school education as well as
alternative learning systems four out-of-school youth and adult learners and includes education for those with special
needs;
(c) Cluster of Schools - is a group of schools which are geographically contiguous and brought together to improve the
learning outcomes;
(d) Formal Education - is the systematic and deliberate process of hierarchically structured and sequential learning
corresponding to the general concept of elementary and secondary level of schooling. At the end of each level, the
learner needs a certification in order to enter or advance to the next level;
(e) Informal Education - is a lifelong process of learning by which every person acquires and accumulates knowledge,
skills, attitudes and insights from daily experiences at home, at work, at play and from life itself;
(f) Integrated School. - is a school that offers a complete basic education in one school site and has unified
instructional program;
(g) Learner - is any individual seeking basic literacy skills and functional life skills or support services for the
improvement of the quality of his/her life;
(h) Learning Center - is a physical space to house learning resources and facilities of a learning program for out-ofschool youth and adults. It is a venue for face-to-face learning and activities and other learning opportunities for
community development and improvement of the people's quality of life;
(i) Learning Facilitator - is the key learning support person who is responsible for supervising/facilitating the learning
process and activities of the learner;
(j) Non-Formal Education - is any organized, systematic educational activity carried outside the framework of the
formal system to provide selected types of learning to a segment of the population;
(k) Quality Education - is the appropriateness, relevance and excellence of the education given to meet the needs and
aspirations of an individual and society;
(I) .School - is an educational institution, private and public, undertaking educational operation with a specific agegroup of pupils or students pursuing defined studies at defined levels, receiving instruction from teachers, usually
located in a building or a group of buildings in a particular physical or cyber site; and
(m) .School Head - is a person responsible for the administrative and instructional supervision of the school or cluster
of schools.
CHAPTER 1
GOVERNANCE OF BASIC EDUCATION
Section 5. Principles of Shared Governance. - (a) Shared governance is a principle which recognizes that every unit in
the education bureaucracy has a particular role, task and responsibility inherent in the office and for which it is
principally accountable for outcomes;
(b) The process of democratic consultation shall be observed in the decision-making process at appropriate levels.
Feedback mechanisms shall be established to ensure coordination and open communication of the central office with
the regional, division and school levels;

(c) The principles of accountability and transparency shall be operationalized in the performance of functions and
responsibilities at all levels; and
(d) The communication channels of field offices shall be strengthened to facilitate flow of information and expand
linkages with other government agencies, local government units and nongovernmental organizations for effective
governance.
Section 6. Governance. - The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall henceforth be called the Department
of Education. It shall be vested with authority, accountability and responsibility for ensuring access to, promoting
equity in, and improving the quality of basic education. Arts, culture and sports shall be as provided for in Sections 8
and 9 hereof.
Section 7. Powers, Duties and Functions. - The Secretary of the Department of Education shall exercise overall
authority and supervision over the operations of the Department.
A. National Level In addition to his/her powers under existing laws, the Secretary of Education shall have authority,
accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Formulating national educational policies;
(2) Formulating a national basic education plan;
(3) Promulgating national educational Standards;
(4) Monitoring and assessing national learning outcomes;
(5) Undertaking national educational research and studies;
(6) Enhancing the employment status, professional competence, welfare and working conditions of all
personnel of the Department; and
(7) Enhancing the total development of learners through local and national programs and/or projects.
The Secretary of Education shall be assisted by not more than four (4) undersecretaries and not more than four (4)
assistant secretaries whose assignments, duties and responsibilities shall be governed by law. There shall be at least
one undersecretary and one assistant secretary who shall be career executive service officers chosen from among the
staff of the Department.
B. Regional Level
There shall be as many regional offices as may be provided by law. Each regional office shall have a director, an
assistant director and an office staff for program promotion and support, planning, administrative and fiscal services.
Consistent with the national educational policies, plans and standards, the regional director shall have authority,
accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Defining a regional educational policy framework which reflects the values, needs and expectations of the
communities they serve;
(2) Developing a regional basic education plan;
(3) Developing regional educational standards with a view towards bench-marking for international
competitiveness;
(4) Monitoring, evaluating and assessing regional learning outcomes;
(5) Undertaking research projects and developing and managing region wide projects which may be funded
through official development assistance and/or or other finding agencies;

(6) Ensuring strict compliance with prescribed national criteria for the recruitment, selection and training of
all staff in the region and divisions.
(7) Formulating, in coordination with the regional development council, the budget to support the regional
educational plan which shall take into account the educational plans of the divisions and districts;
(8) Determining the organization component of the divisions and districts and approving the proposed staffing
pattern of all employees in the divisions and districts;
(9) Hiring, placing and evaluating all employees in the regional office, except for the position of assistant
director;
(10) Evaluating all schools division superintendents and assistant division superintendents in the region;
(II) Planning and managing the effective and efficient use of all personnel, physical and fiscal resources of the
regional office, including professional staff development.;
(12) Managing the database and management information system of the region;
(13) Approving the establishment of public and private elementary and high schools and learning centers; and
(14) Preforming such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities.
C. Division Level
A division shall consist of a province or a city which shall have a schools division superintendent, at least one assistant
schools division superintendent and an office staff for programs promotion, planning, administrative, fiscal, legal,
ancillary and other support services.
Consistent with the national educational policies, plans and standards the schools division superintendents shall have
authority, accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Developing and implementing division education development plans;
(2) Planning and managing the effective and efficient use of all personnel, physical and fiscal resources of the
division, including professional staff development;
(3) Hiring, placing and evaluating all division supervisors and schools district supervisors as well as all
employees in the division, both teaching and non-teaching personnel, including school heads, except for the
assistant division superintendent;
(4) Monitoring the utilization of funds provided by the national government and the local government units to
the schools and learning centers;
(5) Ensuring compliance of quality standards for basic education programs and for this purpose strengthening
the role of division supervisors as subject area specialists;
(6) Promoting awareness of and adherence by all schools and learning centers to accreditation standards
prescribed by the Secretary of Education;
(7) Supervising the operations of all public and private elementary, secondary and integrated schools, and
learning centers; and
(8) Performing such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities.

D. Schools District Level

Upon the recommendation of the schools division superintendents, the regional director may establish additional
schools district within a schools division. School districts already existing at tile time of the passage of the law shall
be maintained. A schools district shall have a schools district supervisor and an office staff for program promotion.
The schools district supervisor shall be responsible for:
(1) Providing professional and instructional advice and support to the school heads and teachers/facilitators of
schools and learning centers in the district or cluster thereof;
(2) Curricula supervision; and
(3) Performing such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities.
E. School Level
There shall be a school head for all public elementary schools and public high schools or a cluster thereof. The
establishment of integrated schools from existing public elementary and public high schools shall be encouraged.
The school head, who may be assisted by an assistant school head, shall be both an instructional leader and
administrative manager. The school head shall form a them with the school teachers/learning facilitators for delivery
of quality educational programs, projects and services. A core of nonteaching staff shall handle the school's
administrative, fiscal and auxiliary services.
Consistent with the national educational policies, plans and standards, the school heads shall have authority,
accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Setting the mission, vision, goals and objectives of the school;
(2) Creating an environment within the school that is conducive to teaching and learning;
(3) Implementing the school curriculum and being accountable for higher learning outcomes;
(4) Developing the school education program and school improvement plan;
(5) Offering educational programs, projects and services which provide equitable opportunities for all learners
in the community;
(6) Introducing new and innovative modes of instruction to achieve higher learning outcomes;
(7) Administering and managing all personnel, physical and fiscal resources of the school;
(8) Recommending the staffing complement of the school based on its needs;
(9) Encouraging staff development;
(10) Establishing school and community networks and encouraging the active participation of teachers
organizations, nonacademic personnel of public schools, and parents-teachers-community associations;
(11) Accepting donations, gifts, bequests and grants for the purpose of upgrading teachers' learning
facilitators' competencies, improving ad expanding school facilities and providing instructional materials and
equipment. Such donations or grants must be reported to the appropriate district supervisors and division
superintendents; and
(12) Performing such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities.

The Secretary of Education shall create a promotions board, at the appropriate levels, which shall formulate and
implement a system of promotion for schools decision supervisors, schools district supervisors, and school heads.
Promotion of school heads shall be based on educational qualification, merit and performance rather than on the
number of teachers/learning facilitators and learners in the school.
The qualifications, salary grade, status of employment and welfare and benefits of school heads shall be the same for
public elementary, secondary and integrated schools.
No appointment to the positions of regional directors, assistant regional directors, schools division superintendents and
assistant schools division superintendents shall be made unless file appointee is a career executive service officer who
preferably shall have risen from the ranks.
CHAPTER 2
TRANSFER OF CULTURAL AGENCIES
SEC. 8. Cultural Agencies. - The Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Records Management
and Archives Office and the National Library shall now be administratively attached to the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and no loner with the Department of Education. The program for school arts and culture
shall remain part of the school curriculum.
CHAPTER 3
ABOLITION OF THE BUREAU OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL SPORTS
Section 9. Abolition of BPESS. - All functions, programs and activities of the Department of Education related to
sports competition shall be transferred to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The program for school sports and
physical fitness shall remain part of the basic education curriculum.
The Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) is hereby abolished. The personnel of the BPESS,
presently detailed with the PSC, are hereby transferred to the PSC without loss of rank, including the plantilla
positions they occupy. All other BPESS personnel shall be retained by the Department.
CHAPTER 4
SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Section 10. The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Budget and Management shall, within ninety (90) days
from the approval of this Act, jointly promulgate the guidelines on the allocation, distribution and utilization of
resources provided by thenational government for the field offices, taking into consideration the uniqueness of the
working conditions of the teaching service.
The Secretary of the Department of Education shall ensure that resources appropriated for the field offices are
adequate and that resources for school personnel, school desks and textbooks and other instructional materials
intended are allocated directly and released immediately by the Department of Budget and Management to said
offices.
Section 11. The Secretary of the Department of Education, subject to civil service laws and regulations, shall issue
appropriate personnel policy rules and regulations that will best meet the requirements of the teaching profession
taking into consideration the uniqueness of the working conditions of the teaching service.
Section 12. The Commission on Audit, in the issuance of audit rules and regulations that will govern the utilization of
all resources as well as the liquidation, recording and reporting thereof, shall take into account the different
characteristics and distinct features of the department's field offices, its organizational set up as well as the nature of
the operations of schools and learning centers.
CHAPTER 5
FINAL PROVISIONS
Section 13. Governance in the ARMM; - The Regional Education Secretary for the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) shall exercise similar governance authority over the divisions, districts, schools and learning
centers in the region as may be provided in the Organic Act. without prejudice to the provisions of Republic Act No.

9054, entitled "An Act to Strengthen and Expand tile Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,
Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No.6734, entitled' An Act Providing for the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao, as amended"'.
Section 14. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Education shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations within ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act: Provided, That the Secretary of Education shall fully
implement the principle of shared governance within two (2) years after the approval of this Act.
Section 15. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any portion or provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.
Section 16 Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, part or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act. shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
(Sgd)
FRANKLIN M. DRILON
President of the Senate
(Sgd)

(Sgd)
ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary General
House of Representatives

JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved: August 11, 2001

(Sgd)

(Sgd)

OSCAR G. YARES
Secretary of the Senate

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

S. No. 3286
H. No. 6643
Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand twelve.
[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10533]
AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BY STRENGTHENING ITS
CURRICULUM AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR BASIC EDUCATION,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate, and integrated
system of education relevant to the needs of the people, the country and society-at-large.
Likewise, it is hereby declared the policy of the State that every graduate of basic education shall be an empowered
individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards
excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be productive, the
ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous,
creative, and critical thinking, and the capacity and willingness to transform others and ones self.
For this purpose, the State shall create a functional basic education system that will develop productive and
responsible citizens equipped with the essential competencies, skills and values for both life-long learning and
employment. In order to achieve this, the State shall:
(a) Give every student an opportunity to receive quality education that is globally competitive based on a
pedagogically sound curriculum that is at par with international standards;
(b) Broaden the goals of high school education for college preparation, vocational and technical career opportunities
as well as creative arts, sports and entrepreneurial employment in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized
environment; and
(c) Make education learner-oriented and responsive to the needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, the circumstances
and diversity of learners, schools and communities through the appropriate languages of teaching and learning,
including mother tongue as a learning resource.
SEC. 3. Basic Education. Basic education is intended to meet basic learning needs which provides the foundation
on which subsequent learning can be based. It encompasses kindergarten, elementary and secondary education as well
as alternative learning systems for out-of-school learners and those with special needs.
SEC. 4. Enhanced Basic Education Program. The enhanced basic education program encompasses at least one (1)
year of kindergarten education, six (6) years of elementary education, and six (6) years of secondary education, in that
sequence. Secondary education includes four (4) years of junior high school and two (2) years of senior high school
education.
Kindergarten education shall mean one (1) year of preparatory education for children at least five (5) years old as a
prerequisite for Grade I.

Elementary education refers to the second stage of compulsory basic education which is composed of six (6) years.
The entrant age to this level is typically six (6) years old.
Secondary education refers to the third stage of compulsory basic education. It consists of four (4) years of junior high
school education and two (2) years of senior high school education. The entrant age to the junior and senior high
school levels are typically twelve (12) and sixteen (16) years old, respectively.
Basic education shall be delivered in languages understood by the learners as the language plays a strategic role in
shaping the formative years of learners.
For kindergarten and the first three (3) years of elementary education, instruction, teaching materials and assessment
shall be in the regional or native language of the learners. The Department of Education (DepED) shall formulate a
mother language transition program from Grade 4 to Grade 6 so that Filipino and English shall be gradually
introduced as languages of instruction until such time when these two (2) languages can become the primary
languages of instruction at the secondary level.
For purposes of this Act, mother language or first Language (LI) refers to language or languages first learned by a
child, which he/she identifies with, is identified as a native language user of by others, which he/she knows best, or
uses most. This includes Filipino sign language used by individuals with pertinent disabilities. The regional or native
language refers to the traditional speech variety or variety of Filipino sign language existing in a region, area or place.
SEC. 5. Curriculum Development. The DepED shall formulate the design and details of the enhanced basic
education curriculum. It shall work with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to craft harmonized basic and
tertiary curricula for the global competitiveness of Filipino graduates. To ensure college readiness and to avoid
remedial and duplication of basic education subjects, the DepED shall coordinate with the CHED and the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
To achieve an effective enhanced basic education curriculum, the DepED shall undertake consultations with other
national government agencies and other stakeholders including, but not limited to, the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the private and public schools associations,
the national student organizations, the national teacher organizations, the parents-teachers associations and the
chambers of commerce on matters affecting the concerned stakeholders.
The DepED shall adhere to the following standards and principles in developing the enhanced basic education
curriculum:
(a) The curriculum shall be learner-centered, inclusive and developmentally appropriate;
(b) The curriculum shall be relevant, responsive and research-based;
(c) The curriculum shall be culture-sensitive;
(d) The curriculum shall be contextualized and global;
(e) The curriculum shall use pedagogical approaches that are constructivist, inquiry-based, reflective, collaborative
and integrative;
(f) The curriculum shall adhere to the principles and framework of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education
(MTB-MLE) which starts from where the learners are and from what they already knew proceeding from the known
to the unknown; instructional materials and capable teachers to implement the MTB-MLE curriculum shall be
available;
(g) The curriculum shall use the spiral progression approach to ensure mastery of knowledge and skills after each
level; and
(h) The curriculum shall be flexible enough to enable and allow schools to localize, indigenize and enhance the same
based on their respective educational and social contexts. The production and development of locally produced
teaching materials shall be encouraged and approval of these materials shall devolve to the regional and division
education units.

SEC. 6. Curriculum Consultative Committee. There shall be created a curriculum consultative committee chaired
by the DepED Secretary or his/her duly authorized representative and with members composed of, but not limited to, a
representative each from the CHED, the TESDA, the DOLE, the PRC, the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), and a representative from the business chambers such as the Information Technology Business Process
Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry association. The consultative committee shall oversee the review and evaluation on the
implementation of the basic education curriculum and may recommend to the DepED the formulation of necessary
refinements in the curriculum.
SEC. 7. Teacher Education and Training. To ensure that the enhanced basic education program meets the demand
for quality teachers and school leaders, the DepED and the CHED, in collaboration with relevant partners in
government, academe, industry, and nongovernmental organizations, shall conduct teacher education and training
programs, as specified:
(a) In-service Training on Content and Pedagogy Current DepED teachers shall be retrained to meet the content
and performance standards of the new K to 12 curriculum.
The DepED shall ensure that private education institutions shall be given the opportunity to avail of such training.
(b) Training of New Teachers. New graduates of the current Teacher Education curriculum shall undergo additional
training, upon hiring, to upgrade their skills to the content standards of the new curriculum. Furthermore, the CHED,
in coordination with the DepED and relevant stakeholders, shall ensure that the Teacher Education curriculum offered
in these Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) will meet necessary quality standards for new teachers. Duly recognized
organizations acting as TEIs, in coordination with the DepED, the CHED, and other relevant stakeholders, shall ensure
that the curriculum of these organizations meet the necessary quality standards for trained teachers.
(c) Training of School Leadership. Superintendents, principals, subject area coordinators and other instructional
school leaders shall likewise undergo workshops and training to enhance their skills on their role as academic,
administrative and community leaders.
Henceforth, such professional development programs as those stated above shall be initiated and conducted regularly
throughout the school year to ensure constant upgrading of teacher skills.
SEC. 8. Hiring of Graduates of Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering and Other Specialists in Subjects With a
Shortage of Qualified Applicants, Technical-Vocational Courses and Higher Education Institution Faculty.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 26, 27 and 28 of Republic Act No. 7836, otherwise known as the
Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, the DepED and private education institutions shall hire, as may
be relevant to the particular subject:
(a) Graduates of science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, music and other degree courses with shortages in
qualified Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) applicants to teach in their specialized subjects in the elementary
and secondary education. Qualified LET applicants shall also include graduates admitted by foundations duly
recognized for their expertise in the education sector and who satisfactorily complete the requirements set by these
organizations: Provided, That they pass the LET within five (5) years after their date of hiring: Provided, further, That
if such graduates are willing to teach on part-time basis, the provisions of LET shall no longer be required;
(b) Graduates of technical-vocational courses to teach in their specialized subjects in the secondary education:
Provided, That these graduates possess the necessary certification issued by the TESDA: Provided, further, That they
undergo appropriate in-service training to be administered by the DepED or higher education institutions (HEIs) at the
expense of the DepED;
(c) Faculty of HEIs be allowed to teach in their general education or subject specialties in the secondary education:
Provided, That the faculty must be a holder of a relevant Bachelors degree, and must have satisfactorily served as a
full-time HEI faculty;
(d) The DepED and private education institutions may hire practitioners, with expertise in the specialized learning
areas offered by the Basic Education Curriculum, to teach in the secondary level; Provided, That they teach on parttime basis only. For this purpose, the DepED, in coordination with the appropriate government agencies, shall
determine the necessary qualification standards in hiring these experts.

SEC. 9. Career Guidance and Counselling Advocacy. To properly guide the students in choosing the career tracks
that they intend to pursue, the DepED, in coordination with the DOLE, the TESDA and the CHED, shall regularly
conduct career advocacy activities for secondary level students. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 27 of
Republic Act No. 9258, otherwise known as the Guidance and Counselling Act of 2004, career and employment
guidance counsellors, who are not registered and licensed guidance counsellors, shall be allowed to conduct career
advocacy activities to secondary level students of the school where they are currently employed; Provided, That they
undergo a training program to be developed or accredited by the DepED.
SEC. 10. Expansion of E-GASTPE Beneficiaries. The benefits accorded by Republic Act No. 8545, or the
Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, shall be extended to qualified
students enrolled under the enhanced basic education.
The DepED shall engage the services of private education institutions and non-DepED schools offering senior high
school through the programs under Republic Act No. 8545, and other financial arrangements formulated by the
DepED and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) based on the principles of public-private partnership.
SEC. 11. Appropriations. The Secretary of Education shall include in the Departments program the
operationalization of the enhanced basic education program, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the
current appropriations of the DepED. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of the
enhanced basic education program shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 12. Transitory Provisions. The DepED, the CHED and the TESDA shall formulate the appropriate strategies
and mechanisms needed to ensure smooth transition from the existing ten (10) years basic education cycle to the
enhanced basic education (K to 12) cycle. The strategies may cover changes in physical infrastructure, manpower,
organizational and structural concerns, bridging models linking grade 10 competencies and the entry requirements of
new tertiary curricula, and partnerships between the government and other entities. Modeling for senior high school
may be implemented in selected schools to simulate the transition process and provide concrete data for the transition
plan.
To manage the initial implementation of the enhanced basic education program and mitigate the expected multi-year
low enrolment turnout for HEIs and Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) starting School Year 2016-2017, the
DepED shall engage in partnerships with HEIs and TVIs for the utilization of the latters human and physical
resources. Moreover, the DepED, the CHED, the TESDA, the TVIs and the HEIs shall coordinate closely with one
another to implement strategies that ensure the academic, physical, financial, and human resource capabilities of HEIs
and TVIs to provide educational and training services for graduates of the enhanced basic education program to ensure
that they are not adversely affected. The faculty of HEIs and TVIs allowed to teach students of secondary education
under Section 8 hereof, shall be given priority in hiring for the duration of the transition period. For this purpose, the
transition period shall be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
SEC. 13. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Enhanced Basic Educational Program (K to 12 Program).
There is hereby created a Joint Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this
Act.
The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and from the House of
Representatives, including Chairs of the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture, and Finance of both Houses. The
membership of the Committee for every House shall have at least two (2) opposition or minority members.
SEC. 14. Mandatory Evaluation and Review. By the end of School Year 2014-2015, the DepED shall conduct a
mandatory review and submit a midterm report to Congress as to the status of implementation of the K to 12 program
in terms of closing the following current shortages: (a) teachers; (b) classrooms; (c) textbooks; (d) seats; (e) toilets;
and (f) other shortages that should be addressed.
The DepED shall include among others, in this midterm report, the following key metrics of access to and quality of
basic education: (a) participation rate; (b) retention rate; (c) National Achievement Test results; (d) completion rate; (e)
teachers welfare and training profiles; (f) adequacy of funding requirements; and (g) other learning facilities
including, but not limited to, computer and science laboratories, libraries and library hubs, and sports, music and arts.
SEC. 15. Commitment to International Benchmarks. The DepED shall endeavor to increase the per capita spending
on education towards the immediate attainment of international benchmarks.

SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the DepED
Secretary, the CHED Chairperson and the TESDA Director-General shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed
for the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 17. 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. 18. Repealing Clause. Pertinent provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 or the Education Act of 1982,
Republic Act No. 9155 or the Governance of Basic Education.
Act of 2001, Republic Act No. 9258, Republic Act No. 7836, 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. 19. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

Speaker of the House
of Representatives

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3286 and House Bill No. 6643 was finally passed by the Senate
and the House of Representatives on January 30, 2013.

(Sgd.) MARILYN BARUA-YAP

Secretary General
House of Representatives

(Sgd.) EDWIN B. BELEN

Acting Senate Secretary

Approved: MAY 15 2013

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines