Proposed Open Learning and Distance Education Act

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on higher education has approved for plenary action three bills, specially the expansion and institutionalization of distance education program also known as the “open learning” system, which would allow undergraduate Filipinos to pursue post-secondary and tertiary education even without physically going to school.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the committee, said apart from the proposed “Open Learning and Distance Education Act of 2010,” his panel has also recommended for plenary action the proposal to strengthen and institutionalize the ladderized education program (LEP) in the country, and the measure that would extend a wide array of discounts for underprivileged students in the post-secondary and tertiary levels.

Angara said the three education measures are meant to help Filipinos who would rather work to earn their keep instead of relying on government doleouts such as the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

The measures complement each other in providing Filipinos, including the poorest of the poor, with better access to post-secondary and tertiary education.

“We really need to fast track the approval of these measures because we need to help those who want to help themselves by getting a degree or acquire skills through vocational training…,” Angara said.