Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides:
“The State shall give priority to education, science and technology’, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total liberation and development ”
In the same tenor, Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution further affirms:
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all”
From these State Principles enshrined in the Constitution, the State recognizes the vital role of quality education in nation-building through the creation of a more responsible, skilled and literate citizenry. To achieve such ends, the State must ensure that existing facilities and learning spaces that are used by our young learners are conducive to quality learning.
However, classrooms in the Philippines remain one of the most crowded in the region according to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Institute for Statistics. While it is notable that the Department of Education has recently reported of its attainment of its target 1:35 teacher-student ratio, the experience on the national scale is not uniformed and consistent. Schools in the provinces remains overcrowded which take rigorous physical and professional toll on teachers which result in mediocre learning delivery due to a disruptive class environment.
This bill seeks to institutionalize an ideal class size of no more than 30 students. Any class exceeding 30 students up to a maximum of 45 students shall be considered a large class and prohibits class size of more than 45 students. Teachers of large classes shall receive additional compensation equivalent to five (5%) percent of their daily rate.
Table of Contents
House Bill No. 8010
Introduced by Manila Teachers Representative
VIRGILIO S. LACSON
AN ACT STANDARDIZING THE APPROPRIATE CLASS SIZE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and (he House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Standard Class Size for Public Schools Act”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education by ensuring that students are given the appropriate environment that is conducive for learning and that public school teachers are provided appropriate teaching conditions.
SEC. 3. Coverage. – This Act shall cover all public schools and public school teachers under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education
SEC. 4. Standard Class Size. – All classes in all public schools nationwide shall have a international class size standard of 30 students. Classes exceeding 30 students up shall be considered a large class.
SEC. 5. Large Class Size. – Any class exceeding 30 students up to a maximum of 45 students shall be considered a large class. In no case shall a class size in excess of 45 students be permitted.
SEC. 6. Additional Compensation for Large Class Size Teachers. – A teacher handling a large class shall be entitled for additional compensation equivalent to five percent (5%) of her daily rate for every student in excess of the standard class size of 30.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act within a period of thirty (30) days after its effectivity
SEC. 8. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual appropriations under the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
I am hoping it will be approved the soonest. The tendency is that, classes with no more than 30 will become a combination class. Where will the teachers go? In our case in the province where the DOH educates spacing, we lack enrollees and most of our classes are multigrade. We may have very few learners, but our work, which is supposed to be done by two or three teachers drains us- preparing for two or three grade levels in one setting, plus a lot of appended duties… It is so stressful.