Creation of Bureau of Private Schools sought

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is seeking to create a main implementing arm for private education programs of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan filed House Bill 4813 establishing a Bureau of Private Schools, which will oversee all DepEd programs relative to private education and address the problems and concerns of private learning institutions in the country.

"The creation of a Bureau of Private Schools will strengthen partnership of the private education sector and the government in nation-building through the promotion of accessible, affordable, and quality education for all the Filipino youth," Tan said.

DepEd currently only assigns one supervisor to oversee all the private schools in a division tasked to other assignments like scouting, nutrition and one academic subject among others, Tan pointed out.

"In the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, there are 16 schools divisions with only 16 supervisors to oversee close to 2,000 private schools in Metro Manila," she said.

Tan said that the situation is completely different in public schools, where a minimum of eight schools division supervisors, apart from district supervisors plus coordinators, and all the staffers in one big division office are in charge to oversee these government-run schools.

Tan said that in 1936, an Office of Private Education headed by a director was established under Commonwealth Act 180 to oversee all private schools in the country. The office, however, was abolished during the reorganization in government.

House Bill 4813 provides that the Bureau of Private Schools shall be functionally assigned to conduct studies and formulate, develop and evaluate programs and educational standards for primary and secondary education in all private schools.

The Bureau of Private Schools shall function as a regular bureau of the DepEd under the supervision of the Department Secretary and shall be headed by a Bureau Director, the proposed measure says.

It similarly requires the bureau to undertake studies necessary for the preparation of prototype curricular designs, instructional materials, and teacher and training programs, and to formulate guidelines to improve education in private schools and the general management of these schools.

Upon approval of the DepEd Secretary, the Director of the proposed bureau may create divisions and offices, appoint officers and employees, as may be necessary, to carry out the provisions of the measure.

All programs of the different DepEd bureaus, relative to private education, shall be placed under the supervision, integration, control and coordination of the bureau.

The DepEd, in coordination with the concerned organization of the private schools in the country, shall issue rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the proposed Act, the bill says.

For more proposed measures in the House of Representatives, visit our Bill Tracker.