Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

SEVENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1

Introduced by Representatives Christian Emmanuel S. Fampulme, Austine Jonah D. Quejada,

John Andres P. Santos, Jan Vincent. D. Sapad, Johanna Marrie G. Burdeos, Ella Sophia Carrion,

Meicy P. Deomampo, Nicole B. Francisco, Ritzy Marby M. Giron, Yvanna Jane G. Gonzales,

Kiara M. Gramatika, Ramilyn D. Jimenez, Maxine Janel B. Lavilla, Jenny Rose T. Lina, Anne

Nicole S. Macalinao, Laarni M. Nartea, Trizzia Avrille C. Ozaeta, Grace E. Quisol, Shyla Nicole

M. Salazar, Jewel Irish S. Simbulan, Shiela Mae C. Tanagon

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 AN ACT

ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINES’ PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

SYSTEM BY REFORMING ITS CURRICULUM AND ENFORCING THE NUMBER OF

YEARS FOR PRESCHOOL EDUCATION MANDATORILY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE BY 2030

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress

assembled.

1 SECTION 1. Short Title. ˗ This act shall be known as the “Preschool Education and

2 Childcare Act of 2030”.

3 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ˗ The state shall establish the enhancement of the

4 education system for pre-primary school to give children’s proper development.

5 It is hereby declared the policy of the state that the children shall be required to attend kindergarten

6 and nursery with an education that focus only on their character or moral development. For this

7 purpose the state shall create morality-based education system for pre-primary school that will

8 develop their code of behavior. The state shall:

9 (a) Promote and provide quality and globally competitive education program in

10 which the best interest of the students was priority.

11 (b) have a goal of establishing the preschool student's good manners and to

12 develop their character, it should not be about judging their intellectual

13 capacity.

14 (c) teach children's basic values like respecting elders, taking good care of their

15 environment, and such.

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16 (d) take importance of the pre-schooler’s well-being, such as keeping their mind

17 and body healthy by making them avoid unhealthy food intake, give them a rest

18 or nap time, let them play and socialize, and etc.

19 SECTION 3. Enhancement of the Preschool Education System. ˗ Preschool education is

20 the first step in children's socialization that promotes interaction and group consciousness among

21 each of them. It aims to sharpen the children's interpersonal skills through various ways of peer

22 interaction as a preparation for primary schooling.

23 SECTION 4. Preschool Education System and Childcare. ˗ Preschool Education System

24 and Childcare is mandatory to all children, ages 5 to 6, to take two years of preschool education

25 before entering primary or elementary school.

26 The academic year is divided into trimesters: April 1 — July 20, September 1 — December 26,

27 and January 7 — March 25. Filipino students get 6 weeks of holidays during the summer. They

28 also have two-week breaks in Christmas Season. It operates for about 4 hours a day, with lunchtime

29 and nap time, and finished by around 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

30 Classrooms must have mats and pillows where children can nap. A bathroom shall be connected

31 to the classroom. The classrooms must also have toys, art materials, and musical instruments or

32 gadgets for children's activities.

33 Children are prepared to be self-sufficient. They are taught on how to feed themselves and put on

34 their clothes, proper hygiene, and toilet training.

35 Preschool education should help children to develop healthy bodies and minds while exposing

36 them to wide range of experiences. Children are provided with lunch, different set of meal daily,

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37 basically healthy. In which a group of 3 to 4 children are assigned daily to help in serving their

38 class' lunch, exposing them to an environment of how food is prepared.

39 This preschool education system is child-centered and based upon the principle of "whole person

40 education" which focuses on social and emotional development, friendship and responsibility with

41 minimal interaction of teachers.

42 Teachers take low profile, seldom scolding mischievous behaviors. They let children play and

43 settle their conflicts .Teachers swap notes with the parents on how their child is doing on a daily

44 basis.

45 Children are tasked to do at least 2 activities per school day that develop their creativity and

46 sensitivity through arts and crafts, playing music, dancing, caring for plants and animals, and

47 making friends. They can learn about cooperation and responsibility by participating in small

48 group activities.

49 Preschools must be considered to be places for fun and socialization, not for academic study.

50 Children take small test based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social

51 interaction as part of the transition from home to school. In addition, they don't take exams until

52 reaching primary school.

53 SECTION 5. Curriculum Development. ˗ The Department of Education (DepEd) shall

54 formulate the design and details of the reformed preschool education system to craft young learners

55 into well-behaved Filipino citizens, and to ensure the development of children with internalized

56 set of values.

57 The DepEd shall adhere to the following standards and principles in developing the reformed

58 preschool education system:

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59 (a) The curriculum shall be age-appropriate and value-centered;

60 (b) The curriculum shall be culture and religion sensitive;

61 (c) The curriculum shall allow the children to develop their values formation before

62 entering academic education;

63 (d) The curriculum shall be flexible enough for its application to be exercised in all

64 cities and provinces of the country.

65 SECTION 6. Curriculum Consultative Committee. ˗ There shall be a curriculum

66 consultative committee chaired by the authorized personnel of educational institutions at the time

67 of the implementation. There shall be a representative monitor from DepEd that shall oversee the

68 review and evaluation from each region on the implementation of the reformed preschool

69 education system and may recommend to the School President the formulation of necessary

70 refinements in the curriculum.

71 SECTION 7. Teacher Education and Training. ˗ The teachers should have proper way to

72 educate and train the child in order to ensure their acquirement of basic moral principles in

73 accordance to the reformed preschool education system. They shall have proper acquisition of the

74 following skills to qualify for the occupation:

75 (a) Teacher or Facilitator should have long patience—to properly handle the

76 schooling of young learners.

77 (b) Should know how to get the child's attention—to ensure that the children will

78 listen.

79 (c) An education or psychology graduate—to have background on handling and

80 developing children's behavior.

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 81 (d) A teacher or facilitator should let the child discover and learn what is right at

82 their own pace, and to teach them basic values fit for the standards of society.

83 SECTION 8. Practices and Intervention Process. ˗ The practices and intervention process

84 focuses on the child psychological behavior and good practices. This is to establish discipline and

85 good manners in order to teach a child to put values before value at an early age because a child’s

86 personality is shaped and developed during childhood.

87 In accordance to the reformation bill, these principles should be implemented for the development

88 and enhancement of preschool education system:

89 (a) Raising awareness of their surroundings to make them more eco-friendly.

90 (b) Decreasing the number of class hours—five (5) hours per day every weekdays.

91 (c) Giving children’s free activities, self-learning, and self-awareness.

92 (d) Have interactive education methods that emphasize critical thinking

93 development, problem-solving skills, and increase in project-based learning.

94 (e) Pay more attention to the students’ individual needs, differences, and abilities

95 in schools.

96 (f) Train professional teachers to have a more effective approach towards good

97 morals.

98 (g) Pay more attention to students’ moral development, life skills, social

99 responsibility, and human relationship skills.

100 (h) Teaching them basic Filipinos etiquettes to make them culturally diverted.

101 (i) Teaching them how to learn in a more uncomplicated way.

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102 SECTION 9. Transitory Provisions. ˗ The Department of Education shall implement

103 reformation of the current preschool education system of the Philippines by 2030.

104 To manage the initial implementation of the reformation of the current educational system, the

105 DepEd shall engage and coordinate closely in all the preschools here in Philippines to implement

106 strategies that ensure the values education and welfare of the children. The transition period shall

107 be provided for the implementing rules and regulations, as well as the improvement of the

108 educational facilities and hiring qualified teachers for this certain level of education.

109 SECTION 10. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Preschool Education and

110 Childcare. ˗ There is hereby created a Joint Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and evaluate

111 the implementation of this Act.

112 The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and from

113 the House of Representatives, including Chairs of the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture,

114 and Finance of both Houses. The membership of the Committee for every House shall have at least

115 two (2) opposition or minority members.

116 SECTION 11. Mandatory Evaluation and Review. ˗ By the end of first semester of School

117 Year 2030-2031, the School Administration of each schools nationwide shall conduct a mandatory

118 evaluation and review, and submit a first report to DepEd as to the status of implementation of the

119 Preschool Education and Childcare Program in terms of closing the following current shortages:

120 (a) teachers; (b) classrooms; (c) materials needed; (d) seats; (e) comfort rooms; and (f) other

121 shortages that should be addressed.

122 The same manner will be implied for the next semester.

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123 By the end of entire School Year 2030-2031, the DepEd shall submit a midterm report to the

124 Congress as to the status of implementation of the Preschool Education and Childcare Program.

125 The DepEd shall include in the midterm report, the following key metrics of access to and quality

126 of the program: (a) participation rate; (b) retention rate; (c) completion rate; (d) teachers’ welfare

127 and training profiles; (e) program methods; and (f) other learning and practicing facilities.

128 SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ˗ Within 90 days after the effectivity

129 of this Act, the DepEd Secretary shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the

130 implementation of this Act.

131 SECTION 13. Separability Clause. ˗ If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

132 unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

133 SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. ˗ This act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its

134 publication in the Official Gazette or three (3) newspaper of general circulation.