Republic of the Philippines
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Metro ManilaSixteenth Congress
Second Regular SessionBegun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand fourteen.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10650
AN ACT EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL SERVICES BY INSTITUTIONALIZING OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING IN LEVELS OF TERTIARY EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Open Distance Learning Act".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to expand and further democratize access to quality tertiary education through the promotion and application of open learning as a philosophy of access to educational services, and the use of distance education as an appropriate, efficient and effective system of delivering quality higher and technical educational services in the country.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:
(a) Distance education refers to a mode of learning in...
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Republic Acts
Open Distance Learning Act
Republic Act No. 10650
Open Distance Learning Act
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Expand and democratize access to quality tertiary education through open learning and distance education
Definitions (Section 3):
- Distance education: Mode of learning where students and teachers are physically separated
- Higher education: Learning level after high school offering degree programs
- Higher education degree programs: Courses leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree
- Higher education institution (HEI): Degree-granting institution recognized by CHED
- Open Distance Learning (ODL): Combines distance education with open and flexible learning
- Open learning: Philosophy of flexible access to education
- Open university/college/institution: CHED-recognized degree-granting HEI with ODL programs
- Post-secondary school: Institution offering non-degree technical-vocational programs accredited by TESDA
- Technical-vocational programs: Non-degree programs aimed at preparing middle-level workers
- Tertiary education: Higher education degree programs and post-secondary technical-vocational programs
Coverage (Section 4):
- Applies to public and private HEIs and post-secondary schools with existing ODL programs
- Applies to HEIs and post-secondary schools authorized as qualified ODL program implementers
Institutionalization of ODL (Section 5):
- ODL is institutionalized in accordance with the Act
- ODL programs must conform to CHED and TESDA guidelines
Guiding Principles for ODL Courses/Subjects (Section 6):
- Learner-centeredness (Section 6a)
- Quality and relevant programs (Section 6b)
- Transparency to guide informed choice (Section 6c)
- Peer review (Section 6d)
- Public responsibility and accountability (Section 6e)
- Quality and continuous improvement (Section 6f)
Admission and Academic Policies (Section 7):
- Must conform to minimum policies, standards and requirements set by CHED and/or TESDA
Program, Curriculum and Course Offerings (Section 8):
- Learning outcomes must be clearly articulated in terms of competencies, skills and attributes
- Must conform to CHED and/or TESDA policies, standards and guidelines for ODL
- Place, pace and mode of study at student's option within prescribed time frame (Section 8a)
- Mechanism to monitor students' academic progress (Section 8b)
- Practicum or on-the-job trainings for applicable courses (Section 8d)
- Completion leads to award of appropriate academic degree or certificate (Section 8e)
- Licensure examination requirement applies for practice of profession (Section 8f)
Mode of Delivery (Section 9):
- Print, audio-visual, electronic/computer technology, virtual classrooms, face-to-face sessions
Support to ODL Programs (Section 10):
- CHED and TESDA to provide support in developing high quality ODL programs
- Support includes training, curriculum development, learning materials, cyber infrastructure, operations planning, linkages
Support to Students (Section 11):
- Access to privileges, opportunities and entitlements as conventional students
- Clear admission policies and procedures (Section 11a)
- Faculty-student dialogue and interactivity (Section 11b)
- Efficient communication system, feedback mechanism, multimedia support (Section 11c)
- Regular monitoring of learners' progress (Section 11d)
- Wide range of accessible learning resources (Section 11e)
Role of UP Open University (Section 12):
- Assist CHED and TESDA in ODL functions
- Provide leadership, promote best practices, share knowledge, provide technical assistance
- Develop model curricular programs, learning materials, capacity building programs
Zonal ODL Centers (Section 13):
- To be established in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and eventually one in each region
- Take charge of training ODL teachers
Roles of CHED and TESDA (Section 14):
- Formulate policies, standards, guidelines, rules and regulations for ODL implementation
- Develop strategies to improve ODL program quality and implement quality control system
- Monitor and evaluate existing ODL programs, effect continuation or closure
- Review and approve/disapprove proposals for new ODL programs
- Recommend budget for qualified state HEIs and post-secondary schools based on evaluation
Roles of Broadcast Media and Telecommunications Networks (Section 15):
- Encouraged to assist and cooperate in transmission of learning materials
Independent Evaluation (Section 16):
- CHED and TESDA to enter agreement with research institutions for independent evaluation of ODL programs
Interim and Final Report (Section 17):
- Interim report within 6 months of enactment
- Final report within 1 year of enactment
Tax Exemptions (Section 18):
- Donations, contributions, bequests and grants for ODL promotion are exempt from donor's tax
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 19):
- To be formulated by CHED, TESDA and UP Open University within 90 days of effectivity
Appropriations (Section 20):
- Initial implementation charged against current year's appropriations of CHED, TESDA and state universities with existing ODL programs
- Subsequent appropriations to be included in annual General Appropriations Act
Separability Clause (Section 21)
Repealing Clause (Section 22)
Effectivity (Section 23):
- Effective 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Expand and democratize access to quality tertiary education through open learning and distance education
Definitions (Section 3):
- Distance education: Mode of learning where students and teachers are physically separated
- Higher education: Learning level after high school offering degree programs
- Higher education degree programs: Courses leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree
- Higher education institution (HEI): Degree-granting institution recognized by CHED
- Open Distance Learning (ODL): Combines distance education with open and flexible learning
- Open learning: Philosophy of flexible access to education
- Open university/college/institution: CHED-recognized degree-granting HEI with ODL programs
- Post-secondary school: Institution offering non-degree technical-vocational programs accredited by TESDA
- Technical-vocational programs: Non-degree programs aimed at preparing middle-level workers
- Tertiary education: Higher education degree programs and post-secondary technical-vocational programs
Coverage (Section 4):
- Applies to public and private HEIs and post-secondary schools with existing ODL programs
- Applies to HEIs and post-secondary schools authorized as qualified ODL program implementers
Institutionalization of ODL (Section 5):
- ODL is institutionalized in accordance with the Act
- ODL programs must conform to CHED and TESDA guidelines
Guiding Principles for ODL Courses/Subjects (Section 6):
- Learner-centeredness (Section 6a)
- Quality and relevant programs (Section 6b)
- Transparency to guide informed choice (Section 6c)
- Peer review (Section 6d)
- Public responsibility and accountability (Section 6e)
- Quality and continuous improvement (Section 6f)
Admission and Academic Policies (Section 7):
- Must conform to minimum policies, standards and requirements set by CHED and/or TESDA
Program, Curriculum and Course Offerings (Section 8):
- Learning outcomes must be clearly articulated in terms of competencies, skills and attributes
- Must conform to CHED and/or TESDA policies, standards and guidelines for ODL
- Place, pace and mode of study at student's option within prescribed time frame (Section 8a)
- Mechanism to monitor students' academic progress (Section 8b)
- Practicum or on-the-job trainings for applicable courses (Section 8d)
- Completion leads to award of appropriate academic degree or certificate (Section 8e)
- Licensure examination requirement applies for practice of profession (Section 8f)
Mode of Delivery (Section 9):
- Print, audio-visual, electronic/computer technology, virtual classrooms, face-to-face sessions
Support to ODL Programs (Section 10):
- CHED and TESDA to provide support in developing high quality ODL programs
- Support includes training, curriculum development, learning materials, cyber infrastructure, operations planning, linkages
Support to Students (Section 11):
- Access to privileges, opportunities and entitlements as conventional students
- Clear admission policies and procedures (Section 11a)
- Faculty-student dialogue and interactivity (Section 11b)
- Efficient communication system, feedback mechanism, multimedia support (Section 11c)
- Regular monitoring of learners' progress (Section 11d)
- Wide range of accessible learning resources (Section 11e)
Role of UP Open University (Section 12):
- Assist CHED and TESDA in ODL functions
- Provide leadership, promote best practices, share knowledge, provide technical assistance
- Develop model curricular programs, learning materials, capacity building programs
Zonal ODL Centers (Section 13):
- To be established in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and eventually one in each region
- Take charge of training ODL teachers
Roles of CHED and TESDA (Section 14):
- Formulate policies, standards, guidelines, rules and regulations for ODL implementation
- Develop strategies to improve ODL program quality and implement quality control system
- Monitor and evaluate existing ODL programs, effect continuation or closure
- Review and approve/disapprove proposals for new ODL programs
- Recommend budget for qualified state HEIs and post-secondary schools based on evaluation
Roles of Broadcast Media and Telecommunications Networks (Section 15):
- Encouraged to assist and cooperate in transmission of learning materials
Independent Evaluation (Section 16):
- CHED and TESDA to enter agreement with research institutions for independent evaluation of ODL programs
Interim and Final Report (Section 17):
- Interim report within 6 months of enactment
- Final report within 1 year of enactment
Tax Exemptions (Section 18):
- Donations, contributions, bequests and grants for ODL promotion are exempt from donor's tax
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 19):
- To be formulated by CHED, TESDA and UP Open University within 90 days of effectivity
Appropriations (Section 20):
- Initial implementation charged against current year's appropriations of CHED, TESDA and state universities with existing ODL programs
- Subsequent appropriations to be included in annual General Appropriations Act
Separability Clause (Section 21)
Repealing Clause (Section 22)
Effectivity (Section 23):
- Effective 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation