P-Noy signs distance learning law

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Formal education is just a click away.

Online courses are now accepted as formal education with the signing of the distance learning law.

Authored by Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. and signed by President Aquino last Dec. 9, Republic Act 10650 has institutionalized distance education as a mode of delivery of open learning.

Distance education is a mode of delivering instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom.  

Aliping noted that students who have no means to attend formal schools are hesitant to enroll in distance learning programs, fearing that courses offered through these programs will not be acceptable to companies.

But he said students need not worry anymore because RA 10650 has institutionalized distance learning.

“This law applies to public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that have existing open learning and distance education programs, and prospectively, other higher education institutions that will be authorized as qualified implementers of open learning and distance education programs,” said Aliping, vice chair of the House committee on higher and technical education.

RA 10650 mandates the Commission on Higher Education to assist HEIs in developing their capability to offer open learning distance education programs.

“It (also) mandates the University of the Philippines to lead in the development of the open distance learning and design model curricular programs that will serve as prototype programs to be implemented by other higher educational institutions,” Aliping added.

Several private schools are already providing distance learning through correspondence and online courses.

Graduates from these schools include people who have no time to attend regular classes like businessmen and senior citizens who want to have a bachelor’s degree.

“The passage of this law now allows us to have alternative quality programs to educate our countrymen who are seeking college education that will enable them to get better employment and gain better quality of life,” Aliping said.