CHAPTER III: Basic Education

Terms, Notations and Important Concepts

1. Basic Education

It has three (3) main programs; elementary, secondary and non-formal.

2. Curricular programs

These are suggestive patterns and models for the guidance of the field and teachers.

3. Notes on the Basis of Curricular Programs

1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, Section 2

Education Act of 1982
DECS vision and mission
Other official statutes

4. Notes on the Objectives of Elementary Education

To provide the knowledge and develop the skills, attitudes and values essential to the
personal development and necessary for living in, and contributing to, a developing and
changing social milieu.
To provide learning experiences which increase the learners awareness of, and
responsiveness to, the changes and demands of the society and prepare him/her for
constructive and effective involvement.
Top promote and intensify the learners knowledge of, identification with, and love for the
nation and the people to which he/she belongs.
To promote experiences which develop the learners orientation to the world of work and
prepare himself/herself to engage in honest and gainful work.

5. Notes on the Organization of Classes in the Elementary Grades

Generally, in the primary grades, one (1) teacher shall handle all the subjects in one (1) class
with a maximum of fifty-six (56) pupils. ( D.O. No. 26, s. 1995)
In the intermediate grades, the departmental system may be adopted following a 5:4 or 3:2
plan ratio of teachers to classes.
 No teacher shall have a load of more than 360 minutes of actual teaching per day (M.O. No.
6, s. 1982)
The maximum of daily contact time shall be 300 minutes (Grades I and II), 340 minutes
(Grade III), 360 minutes (Grade IV) and 380 minutes (Grade V and VI) for regular classes.
Mobile and/or multi-grade classes shall be organized to cater for the needs of school children
in distant and difficult-to-reach communities when there are insufficient numbers of enrollees
per grade or when not enough teachers are available.

6. Acceleration

It refers to any administrative practice designed to move gifted learners through school more rapidly
than usual.

7. Grade acceleration / Grade skipping

A child skips one (1) or two (2) grades after he/she has been found to be intellectually, socially and
emotionally ready to be moved to the higher grade.

8. Grade telescoping

A pupil covers all the scope and sequence of a two-year curriculum in one (1) year or a three-year
curriculum in two (2) years.

9. Ability grouping

Is any classification of children for instructional purposes in terms of capacity for learning and
demonstrated achievement. The types of ability grouping are;

Special class / Self-contained class

Children who have been earlier identified as gifted are grouped by grades and are taught
using curriculum adapted to their abilities, interest and needs.
Pull-out Program
Under this scheme, the gifted are pulled out from their class to attend enrichment classes
under a teacher who has expertise in the particular subject.

10. Enrichment
It refers to any adaptation of regular curriculum to provide educational experiences over and above
those in the regular program. It does not require students to skip grades or accomplish anything
earlier than usual.

11. Notes on Pre-school Education or Early Childhood Education

Objectives ( D.O. No. 107, s. 1989)

a. To develop the child in all aspects, so that he/she may be better prepared to adjust and cope with
life situations within the context of his/her experience.
b. To maximize the childs fullest potential through a variety of carefully selected and meaningful
experiences considering his or her interests and capabilities.

12. Notes on the General Guidelines on Pre-school Education or Early Childhood Education

School divisions are encouraged to establish public pre-school classes whenever possible to
provide the early childhood stimulation needed by children during their formative years.
In schools where the Grade I pupils have not been provided by pre-school education, the
eight-week curriculum on early childhood experiences shall be provided.
Organized pre-school classes may have a minimum of twenty (20) and a maximum of forty
(40) pupils to a class.
A pre-school teacher may be allowed to handle a maximum of two (2) classes, one (1) in the
morning and one (1) in the afternoon.

13. Curricular offerings of the different types of Secondary Schools

General Secondary School

It offers a continuation of the elementary education program but designed both as college
preparatory as well as terminal education who may not go to college.
General Comprehensive High School
It offers the secondary education program as preparatory program for college. In addition, it
provides a variety of academic and vocational electives/courses for the students to choose.
Secondary Vocational School
In addition to the general secondary program, vocational and related subjects designed to
prepare students primarily for gainful employment in areas as agriculture, fishery, trade and
industry.
 Special Secondary School
It offers a high school curricula specially designed to address the peculiar needs of special
groups of students.

CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL

Regional Division Science High School

It provides an addition to the secondary education program, additional elective in Science,
mathematics and English subjects for the highly gifted students who are inclined towards
sciences. There shall be one R/DSHS for each region/division (D.O. No. 69, s. 1993).
Science and Technology High School
It equips highly qualified learners with knowledge, skills and attitudes relative to science and
technology.
Science High School and Science and Technology School
It has an enriched Science, Mathematics and English curriculum in addition to the standard
requirements of the secondary education curriculum.
Special Science Curriculum in the Network of S&T Oriented High Schools
It provides enrichment materials for science and technology, mathematics, earth Science in
selected existing general high schools (D.O. No. 128, s. 1993)
School for the Handicapped
It is a school for children who may either be visually impaired, hearing impaired, mentally
retarded, or orthopedically handicapped.
Boys Town School
It is a government school for orphans, the homeless and other underprivileged boys.
The School for Minor Offenders
This correctional high school takes care of the minor offenders. The curriculum is basically
the same with the general high schools but with a strong emphasis on vocational skills
development.
The Philippine High School for the Arts
It provides special curricula for the development of the talents and interests in arts, creative
music, theater arts, in addition to the standard requirements of the secondary education
curriculum.

MORE FROM TEACHERPH

TEACHING & EDUCATION

DepEd Statement on the proposed House probe on DO 38

Oct 28, 2017
TEACHING & EDUCATION

DepEd Official Statement on the killing of Kian Loyd Delos Santos

Aug 19, 2017
TEACHING & EDUCATION

DepEd proposes 2018 budget for inclusive, nurturing learning environment

Aug 15, 2017
TEACHING & EDUCATION

DepEd pushes for signing of Safe Schools Declaration

Aug 15, 2017

14. Non-formal education

It offers alternative learning opportunities for the out-of-school youth and adults specifically for
those who are fifteen (15) years old and above and unable to avail themselves of the educational
services and programs of formal education.

15. School Paper

It shall consists mainly of editorial, sports and science page feature articles, reports and news items
on the various school and community activities.

It is a venue for the development of the journalistic interest and skills of the students. In no case shall
it be a venue for grievance and destructive criticisms.

16. Student Government

It provides learning opportunities and first-hand experiences in leadership and to exercise democratic
procedures to all pupils/students.

17. Department Order No. 20, s. 1991

It prohibits the organization of fraternities and sororities at the elementary and secondary schools,
both public and private. Penalty for non-compliance is expulsion and of pupils/students.

18. Notes on Health and Nutrition Program

Four (4) Major Phases of Health and Nutrition Program

Healthful school living

 Health and nutrition services
Health education
School-community coordination for health

19. Notes on the EMIS

It stands for Educational and Management Information System

It is a well planned and meticulously managed information system better known as the data
bank.
The EMIS should be handled by a teacher. Management of the EMIS is equivalent to four (4)
teaching loads.

20. Notes on the Establishment of Schools

Guidelines on the Establishment of new Schools

No new public school shall be established except by law or pursuant to law.

The establishment of a new school, conversion of existing schools or changes of curricular
offerings, administration, maintenance and conduct of existing secondary schools shall be by
law.
New public schools may also be established in municipalities and cities upon the approval of
the Secretary provided the requirements set are met.

21. Notes on opening school annexes in nearby barangays.

A feasibility study should be conducted by the school head of the mother school recommended by
the Schools Division Superintendent and the Regional Director. The feasibility shall include;

Petition by the majority of the parents of prospective enrollees.

Title of school site of one (1) hectare or deed of donation in favor of the Department.
Certification of availability of funds for the construction of classrooms and other facilities.
Certification that the proposed annex is not within the 2-kilometer radius of any existing
public/private schools.
Certification of the availability of funds, textbooks, references and equipment for Science,
Mathematics, THE and PEHM.
Certification of continued support from the local government until such time that the school
is incorporated in the national budget.
 A copy of the budget of the mother school and the proposed budget of the annex.

22. Notes on the Integration of Schools

An existing elementary/high school may be integrated, merged or incorporated with another existing
elementary/high school with a contiguous geographical area if enrolment in such school fails to meet
the minimum of 100 students per curriculum year or if the continued separate operation of both
schools is not financially feasible. In some cases elementary and secondary schools located in the
same school site may be integrated (D.O. No. 5, s. 1989).

23. Notes on the areas of school sites.

One half (0.5) hectare for a school with an enrolment of 50 or less students.
One (1) hectare for a school with an enrolment of 50 to 1 000 students.
Two (2) hectares for a school with an enrolment of 1 000 to 2 000 students.
Three (3) hectares for a school with an enrolment of 2 000 to 3 000 students.
The same ratio should be maintained for enrolment in excess of 3 000.

24. Notes on the qualification to enroll on night classes.

Only qualified students should be allowed to enroll. They should have;

A certificate of graduation from elementary school.

A certificate of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT)

25. Notes on Closure of Schools

Voluntary when the school for valid cause and on its own initiative chooses to terminate or
close of its own programs or courses offered, provided such closure is undertaken at the end
of school term and provided further that the school remains obliged to furnish the necessary
transfer credentials and records to the students affected by the closure.
Involuntary when the closure or termination is ordered by the Department through the
revocation/withdrawal of the permit or certificate of recognition previously issued for the
program or course.

26. Notes on the Temporary Closure of a Public School

No students are enrolled therein.

 The school buildings are destroyed or have been declared dangerous to life.
The entire school building and site houses refugees from calamities.
There is no peace and order in the community.