FIFTEENTH CONGRESS First Regular Session COMMITTEE REPORT Ni 387 Submitted by the Committee on Basic Education on ___ eC 2010 : RE HoUsE BILLNo.__ 3826 Recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill Nos. 18, 25, 3555. , 89, 1622, 2104 and SPONSORS : Representatives Escudero, Almario, Teodero, Del Mar, Villafuerte, Angara, Syjuco and Malapitan Mr. Speaker: ‘The Committee on Basic Education and Culture, to which was referred House Bill No. 18, introduced by Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro, titled: “AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” House Bill No. 25, introduced by Rep. Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, titled: ‘AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND INTEGRATING VALUES FORMATION INTO THE CURRICULUM OF PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION” House Bill No. 63, introduced by Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte, titled: “AN ACT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION BY INCORPORATING KINDER 1 FOR 3 TO 4 YEARS OLD, KINDER 2 FOR 5 YEARS OLD, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” . House Bill No. 89, introduced by Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, titled: AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” House Bill No. 1622, introduced by Rep. Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, titled: “AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FOR A FREE PUBLIC KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”House Bill No. 2104, introduced by Rep. Oscar G. Malapitan, titled: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” and House Bill No. 3555, introduced by Rep. Thelma Z. Almario, titled: “AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INTO THE PUBLIC BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” has considered the same and has the honor to report them back to: the House of Representatives with the recommendation that House Bill No. 3826. titled: “AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” be approved in substitution of House Bill Nos. 18, 25, 63, 89, 1622, 2104 and 3555, with Representatives Almario, Teodoro, Del Mar, Villafuerte, Angara, Syjuco, Malapitan Escudero, Ocampo, Enverga, Tinio, Dalog, Evardone, Joson, Tlagan, Palatino, M.S. Sarmiento, M.Y. Lagdameo, F.A. Dimaporo, Revilla, Ortega, Loong, Piamonte, Farifias, Cagas, Padilla and Rodriguez, as authors thereof. Respectfully submitted, S SALVADOR H. ESCUDEROTI Chairperson Committee on Basic Education and Culture ‘THE HONORABLE SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUEZON CITYRepublic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon City FIFTEENTH CONGRESS . First Regular Session HOUSE BILLNO.___ 3826 (In substitution of House Bill No. House Bill Nos. 18, 25, 63, 89, 1622, 2104 and 3555) Introduced by Representatives Thelma Z. Almario, Marcelino R. Teodoro, Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, Luis R. Villafuerte, Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Augusto Boboy Syjuco, Oscar G. Malapitan, Salvador H. Escudero Ill, Rosenda Ann M. Ocampo, Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga, Antonio L. Tinio, Maximo B. Dalog, Ben P. Evardone, Josefina M. Joson, Luzviminda C. llagan, Raymond V. Palatino, Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Monique Yazmin Q. Lagdameo, Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo, Lani M. Revilla, Victor C. Ortega, Tupay T. Loong, Mariano U. Piamonte, Jr., Rodolfo C. Farifias, Marc Douglas IV C. Cagas, Carlos M. Padilla and Rufus B. Rodriguez AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE KINDERGARTEN 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 “Kindergarten Education Act.” SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ In consonance with the Millennium Development Goals ‘on achieving Education for All (BFA) by the year 2015, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide equal opportunities for all children to avail of accessible mandatory and compulsory kindergarten 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. Kindergarten education is vital to the academic and technical development of the Filipino child for it is the period where the young mind’s absorptive capacity for learning is at its sharpest. Kindergarten education shall serve as a requirement for entrants to Grade I upon the effectivity of this Act. SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: (a) BEE shall refer to the Bureau of Elementary Education; (b) DepEd shall refer to the Department of Education; and (©) Kindergarten Education shall be understood in this Act to mean one year of preschool education for children five (5)-year old and above as a pre-requisite for Grade I. SEC. 4. Institutionalization of Kindergarten Education. ~ Kindergarten education. is hereby institutionalized as part of basic education and shall be made mandatory and compulsory starting School Year 2011-2012. The public kindergarten education program shall be free from tuition and other school fees. Henceforth, all referrals to preschool education shall now mean kindergarten education.BoSecwrsawevn— 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2 28 29 30 31 32 3 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 2 4B 44 45 46 47 48 SEC. 5, Implementing Agency. ~ The authority to regulate the organization, operation and/or implementation of the kindergarten education program of both the public and private schools shall be vested upon the DepEd, through the BEE. SEC. 6. Duties, Powers and Functions. - The DepEd, through the BEE, shall exercise the following powers and functions: (a) Oversee and supervise the organization, operation and implementation of the kindergarten education program; (b) Develop the curriculum for kindergarten education consistent with the universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation, and to periodically review such for purposes of upgrading; (©) Conceive, develop and extend a regular training program to kindergarten education teachers to ensure constant updating of their knowledge in modem trends, methodologies and concepts on early childhood education; (@) Prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation of teachers who will handle the kindergarten education program; and (©) Exercise authority over the operation of private kindergarten institutions. SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the Department's program the operationalization of the free mandatory and compulsory public Kindergarten education, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current appropriations for kindergarten education of the Department. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of the free public kindergarten education program shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, the Secretary of Budget and Management, and the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the implementation of this Act. SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — \f 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. 10. Repeating Clause. ~ Pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 8980 and ail 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. 1 SEC. 11. 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,FACT SHEET House Bill No. 3826 ‘Substitute Bill of House Bill Nos. 18, 25, 63, 89, 1622, 2104 & 3555 (As Approved by the Committee) KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION ACT Introduced by: REPS. ALMARIO, TEODORO, DEL MAR, VILLAFUERTE, ANGARA, SYJUCO, MALAPITAN, ESCUDERO, OCAMPO, ENVERGA, TINIO, DALOG, EVARDONE, JOSON, ILAGAN, PALATINO, MS. SARMIENTO, MY, LAGDAMEO, F.A. DIMAPORO, REVILLA, ORTEGA, LONG, PIAMONTE, FARINAS, GAGAS, PADILLA AND RODRIGUEZ Committee Referral: COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION & CULTURE (Primary) Committee Chairperson: REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO II OBJECTIVES: *° To provide equal opportunities for all children to avail of accessible kindergarten education to sufficiently prepare them for formal elementary schooling ‘+ Todevelop the academic and technical development of the Filipino child for itis the period where the young mind's absorptive capacity for learning is at its sharpest KEY PROVISIONS: ‘Seeks to institutionalize kindergarten education as part of the basic education system and shall be made mandatory for all 5-year old and above children as pre-requisite for Grade | * Provides for free public kindergarten education program * Defines kindergarten education as one year of preschool education for children five-year old and above as a pre-requisite for Grade | * Grants authority to the Department of Education (DepEd), through the Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE), to regulate the organization, operation and/or implementation of the kindergarten education program + Empowers the DepEd, through the BEE, to exercise the following: (2) Oversee and supervise the organization, operation and implementation of the kindergarten education program; (b) Develop the curriculum for kindergarten education consistent with the universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation, and to periodically review such for purposes of upgrading; (©) Conceive, develop and extend a regular training program to kindergarten education teachers to ensure constant updating of their knowledge in modem trends, methodologies and concepts on early childhood education; (d) Prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation of teachers ‘who will handle the kindergarten education program; and (e) Exercise authority over the operation of private kindergarten institutions. RELATED LAWS: 1987 Philippine Constitution Republic Act 8980, Early Childhood Care and Development Act Republic Act 9155, Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 Executive Order 685 (Issued 10 Jan. 2008), Expanding the Preschool Coverage to Include Children Enrolled in Day Care Centers