Senate approves Open High School System Act

The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to make education more accessible to the out-of -school youth and adults by providing them with an alternative secondary education program.

Senate Bill No. 2277, or the Open High School System Act was authored by Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Ralph Recto and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2277, or the Open High School System Act, said the bill aims to utilize multimedia learning and teaching technologies that would allow high school learners to study on their own pace without the need of attending classes in the conventional classroom.

She said the use of print, radio, television, computer-based communications and other multi-media will be utilized to deliver educational services to high school students.

Under the proposed measure, the Bureau of Secondary Education of the Department of Education (DepEd) will create a separate unit to handle the alternative education program.

The Open High School System shall be open to qualified students 18 years of age and below who have finished their elementary education, and to those who had passed the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT). Students above 18 years of age who wish to complete their high school education shall be referred to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the DepEd.

According to the bill, every division of the DepEd shall establish learning centers in the authorized mother high schools located in their jurisdiction. Local Government Units may also provide assistance for the establishment of learning centers under the authority of a recognized mother high school.

"Alternative education systems are practicable ways by which we can widen access to education and empower not only individual citizens but the nation as well," Cayetano said. (Olive Caunan) Senate approves Open High School System Act The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to make education more accessible to the out-of -school youth and adults by providing them with an alternative secondary education program.

Senate Bill No. 2277, or the Open High School System Act was authored by Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Ralph Recto and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2277, or the Open High School System Act, said the bill aims to utilize multimedia learning and teaching technologies that would allow high school learners to study on their own pace without the need of attending classes in the conventional classroom.

She said the use of print, radio, television, computer-based communications and other multi-media will be utilized to deliver educational services to high school students.

Under the proposed measure, the Bureau of Secondary Education of the Department of Education (DepEd) will create a separate unit to handle the alternative education program.

The Open High School System shall be open to qualified students 18 years of age and below who have finished their elementary education, and to those who had passed the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT). Students above 18 years of age who wish to complete their high school education shall be referred to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the DepEd.

According to the bill, every division of the DepEd shall establish learning centers in the authorized mother high schools located in their jurisdiction. Local Government Units may also provide assistance for the establishment of learning centers under the authority of a recognized mother high school.

"Alternative education systems are practicable ways by which we can widen access to education and empower not only individual citizens but the nation as well," Cayetano said. (Olive Caunan)