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Legislative bills

Landmark Education Measures Approved to Close Education Gap

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Philippine House of Representatives has passed two historic education measures aimed at bridging the widening education gap by improving access for underserved and marginalized communities. The Private Basic Education Voucher Program (HB 4744) and the Last-Mile School Act (HB 4755) were approved with over 280 votes in favor, marking a significant step towards ensuring equal access to quality education for all Filipinos.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Private Basic Education Voucher Program (HB 4744) aims to provide financial aid to learners from middle- and low-income families who study in congested public schools or live in areas without nearby public institutions.
  • The measure creates the Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education (DepEd) to supervise private basic education institutions and administer government assistance and subsidies.
  • The Last-Mile School Act (HB 4755) institutionalizes the government's initiative to build public basic education schools in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas.
  • The five-year program will prioritize schools with fewer than four classrooms, multigrade setups, or student populations under 100, many of which are in indigenous and remote communities.
  • The DepEd will work with other agencies to build roads and ensure electricity and internet connectivity in these areas.
  • The measures aim to empower parents to choose the best schools for their children and ensure that public and private schools are partners in nation-building.
  • Representative Roman Romulo, the principal author of HB 4744, stated that the bill would institutionalize a Private Basic Education Voucher Program covering kindergarten to senior high school students.
  • The bill seeks to expand government financial aid to learners from middle- and low-income families.
  • HB 4744 also creates the Bureau of Private Education under the DepEd, which will supervise all private basic education institutions and administer government assistance and subsidies.

Statistics:

  • February 2023: The House of Representatives passed House Bills No. 4744 and 4755 with over 280 votes in favor.
  • 19th Congress: The House passed another version of HB 4744 on third reading in January, but nothing came out of it as the Senate failed to pass its own version.
  • 5 years: The Last-Mile School Act (HB 4755) is a five-year program aimed at building public basic education schools in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas.
  • 2027: The program aims to prioritize schools with fewer than four classrooms, multigrade setups, or student populations under 100.

Sources:

  • The Philippine House of Representatives press release, February 27, 2023
  • Report on HB 4744 and HB 4755, Philippine Star, February 28, 2023
  • Interview with Representative Roman Romulo, February 27, 2023

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