My Reflection on the Legal Bases of Education

JUNITO C. COMEROS, Ph.D.- EdMgt 2 Student

I learned that school laws give authority, purpose and direction to school
administrators, supervisors, and classroom teachers. The legal enactments in this country
which has bearing on the status of school administration and supervision are the following:
Laws Related to School Organization and Control
1. The Philippine Constitution – The most important legal basis of the administration
and supervision is found in certain provision of the Philippine Constitution. Section 8 of Article
XV state that “all educational institutions shall be under the supervision of and subject
regulation by the state”.
2. Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission – The administration of the Philippine
Government during the early part of the American occupation was in the hands of the
Philippine commission whose members were appointed by the President of the United States.
The commission on January 21, 1901, passed Act No. 74, Section 1 of which established a
Department of Public Instruction, which has executive control and general supervision of all
schools already established by the Military authorities.
3. Commonwealth Act No. 180 – This Act is the present basic law governing private
education in this country. It amended act No. 2706 which provided for the government
regulation and supervision of private schools, colleges and universities.
4. Commonwealth Act No. 586 – This Act is known as the Educational Act of 1940
which provides the legal basis of the present six-year elementary course, the double-single
session, the school entrance ages, and national support of elementary education.
5. Republic Act No. 896 – This Act is known as the Elementary School Act of 1953.
This new law restores Grade 7 VII which was abolished by the Education Act 1940.
6. Executive Order No. 94 – (Based on upon the Reorganization Act of 1947). This
law gives the Secretary of Education executive supervision over the Bureau of Public School
and the Bureau of Private Schools, the Bureau of Public libraries, the Institute of national
language, and the Philippine Historical Committee.
7. Republic Act No. 1124 – This Act created by the Board of Education. According to
this law, the Board of the National Education is a policy making body.
8. Republic Act No. 5447 – This law is otherwise known as Special Education Fund
Act. This law provides an annual additional tax of one percent of the assessed value of real
property tax.
 9. Presidential Decree No. 1 – This decree made a thorough going revamp of the
executive branch of the government.
10. Presidential Decree No. 176 – This control and administration of all educational
institutions already established or hereafter to be established in the Philippines shall be
vested in the citizens of the Philippines. Membership in governing bodies or boards of such
educational institutions shall be vested in the citizens of the Philippines.
Laws Related to Teaching Personnel
1. Commonwealth Act No. 117 – This Act places the public school teachers under Civil
Rules and Regulations as to their examination, appoinment, tranfer, seperation, suspension,
and reinstatement. This Act also protects tenure of office.
2. Commonwealth Act No. 578 – This law recognizes supervisors, teachers, and
professors of public and recognized private schools as person in authority.
3. Republic Act No. 660 – This Act amended Section 12 of the Commonwealth Act
186. This Act provides for automatic retirement at the age of sixty-five years, if the teacherhas
completed fifteen years of service, and if he is not, he shall allowed tp continue service until
he has completed fifteen years unless is otherwise eligible for disability retirement.
4. Republic Act No. 842 – This Salary Act of 1953 (Republic Act No. 842) provides for
a revised salary scale and automatic salary increases for public school officials, teachers and
other school personnel at the government.
5. Republic Act No. 1079 – This law provides that civil service eligibility shall be
permanent and shall have no limit.
6. Republic Act No. 1080 – This Act states that the bar examination and the board
examination which review the candidates to have four years of college training and two years
for experience are considered equivalent to the first grade regular examination.
7. Republic Act No. 1147 – This Act that regular and promotional teacher civil service
examinations be given at least once two years.
8. Republic Act No. 4461 – This Act is known as the Teachers’ Meeting Law. This law
provides that the teachers meeting shall not be called on Saturdays. This concept is based
on the contention of teachers that Saturdays is not a working day as observed by the
government employees.
9. Republic Act No. 447 – This Act is known as the Provincial Salary Act. This law
raised the salaries of field school superintendents above the level of the salaries of Division
Chiefs in the Central Office who had served in the field as superintendent of schools and who
are supposed to have higher category than the field superintendents.
 10. Republic Act No. 1880 – This Act amended Sections 562 and 564 of the revised
administrative code. It prescribed the legal hours of labor to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or
40 hours a week. It also states that government employees may be allowed 5 hours of service
from April to June 15 inclusive upon the discretion of the President of the Republic.
11. Republic Act No. 5168 – This is known as the public school teacher salary
standardized act.
12. Republic Act No. 6111 – This is act is otherwise known as Philippine Medical Care
Act of 1969, was approved on August 4, 1969. Primarily to extend medical care to all resident
in an evolutionary way within our economic means and capability as a nation.
13. Republic Act No. 6362 – This act amended R.A 5168 otherwise known as the
Public School Teacher Salary Standardization Act and Appropriating Fund therefore.
I realized that the legal bases of education were made for the common good of the
learners, teachers, and other people involved in the education system. As laws were made
for the people, it is also our responsibility to be knowledgeable of these legal bases for us to
know our rights and responsibilities. Laws are like subject matters or lessons that can be
considered to be effective, only when they are taught and understood by the pupils. For
teachers to become effective, it is but proper that we understand the legal bases of education
for they are the foundations of all policies and rules concerning education. It is like a guiding
star that will help us find the right path that we must follow so that we can achieve the
objectives of education in general. We will be able to make things essential for the lives of
the pupils and also in our profession, for knowing of the root of education means
understanding the purpose and importance of education. In like manner, it is important to
know the legal bases of education because it serves as our direction in terms of teaching and
on how to address with the issues and concerns in the educational arena.

With the knowledge gained about legal bases of education, I will continue taking
endeavors to learn more about the legal bases in education. I shall continue adhering to the
laws and policies in relation to my chosen profession so that I can build a solid background
knowledge for I believe that these laws will guide me to know what are the right things to do
as an educator. I shall continue relentlessly my pursuit of knowledge, development of skills
and proficiency in my work in order to usher a pleasant, satisfying, and enriching experience
in this profession. In addition, policies were made so that I will be aware of my duties and do
what is appropriate at all times. I shall continue manifesting the zeal in doing the right things
with wit and with sense. Hence, I should pay heed to these laws so that I can perform
confidently my responsibilities as a nation-builder.