DepEd: Schools to open June 4 (Philippines)

DepEd: Schools to open June 4 (Philippines)

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that June 4 is the date for opening of classes for School Year 2012-2013.

The announcement was released to all Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Bureau Directors, Directors of Services, Centers and Heads of Units, Regional Directors, Schools Division/City Superintendents, and Heads of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools, by DepEd Order No. 26 series of 2012.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the release is "in line with the mainstreaming of the reforms in basic education." The calendar indicates that the last day of school shall be on March 22, 2013, Friday, with a total of 200 school days required.

"This school calendar aims to synchronize all the core events and teaching-learning activities in order to maximize the use of the required 200 school days for the SY2012-2013 which include 180 days to be used for non-negotiable teacher-pupils/students contact time and the five days In-Service Training (INSET) break and parent-teacher conference," Luistro said.

Luistro however said that private schools may follow the School Calendar and shall not start classes earlier than June 4 and not later than the last day of August, in line with Republic Act No. 7797, or "An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 days To Not More than 220 Class Days."

Specific guidelines are also provided by DepEd to enable the schools to implement the school events and activities effectively and efficiently. National and local celebrations/activities may also be observed, but should maintain the total number of school days. Make-up classes shall be conducted to compensate for the school days spent for said activities.

Brigada Eskwela, which is also included in the calendar, which will start on May 21 to 26. Summer classes for kindergarten started last April 10 to June 5 while the summer classes for students who have dropped out of school and for other out-of-school youths started in April 16 to May 28.

source & image credit: http://reynthology.blogspot.com

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Kindergarten now mandatory for Philippine public school children

Kindergarten now mandatory for Philippine public school children

MANILA, Philippines - Attending kindergarten for public school children is now a prerequisite for Grade 1 following the passage of Republic Act 10157 or the Kindergarten Education Act.

The law provides for free one-year public kindergarten education for children at least five years old starting school year 2012-2013.
 

Image Credit: talakayanatkalusugan.com

“Ibig-sabihin, lahat ng mga mag-aaral sa mga pampublikong paaralan, simula sa darating na School Year 2012-2013, ay kailangan nang dumaan sa preschool bilang panimula ng kanilang pormal na pag-aaral,” President Aquino said during the formal presentation of the law in Malacañang. 

The law was signed by the President last January 20.

“Kindergarten education is hereby institutionalized as part of basic education and for school year 2011-2012 shall be implemented partially, and thereafter, it shall be made mandatory and compulsory for entrance to Grade 1,” the law states.

“The DepEd shall immediately include in the program of the Department 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 DepEd. Thereafter, such sums which shall be necessary for the continued implementation of the free public kindergarten education program shall be charged to the General Fund and included in the annual General Appropriations Act.”

Aquino said that the law will help strengthen the basic education program and achieve 100 percent primary education by 2015 as one of the Millennium Development Goals.

source: ABS-CBN

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