KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION ACT

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 10157 (Kindergarten Education Act)

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Provide equal opportunities for all children to avail of accessible mandatory and compulsory kindergarten education.
- Kindergarten education effectively promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional and skills stimulation and values formation to prepare children for formal elementary schooling.
- Kindergarten education is vital to the academic and technical development of Filipino children.
- Education should be learner-oriented and responsive to the needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, circumstances and diversity of learners, schools and communities.

Definition of Terms (Section 3):
- DepEd: Department of Education
- BEE: Bureau of Elementary Education
- Kindergarten education: One (1) year of preparatory education for children at least five (5) years old as a prerequisite for Grade I.
- Mother tongue: The language first learned by a child.

Institutionalization of Kindergarten Education (Section 4):
- Kindergarten education is institutionalized as part of basic education.
- For school year 2011-2012, it shall be implemented partially.
- Thereafter, it shall be made mandatory and compulsory for entrance to Grade 1.

Medium of Instruction (Section 5):
- The State shall adopt the mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) method.
- The mother tongue of the learner shall be the primary medium of instruction for teaching and learning in the kindergarten level.
- Exceptions are allowed in certain cases, and the primary medium of instruction shall be determined by the DepEd.
- The DepEd shall formulate a mother tongue-based multilingual framework for teaching and learning, including teaching strategies to introduce and eventually strengthen the child's understanding of English.

Implementing Agency (Section 6):
- The authority to regulate the organization, operation and/or implementation of the kindergarten education program shall be vested upon the DepEd.
- A new Division under the BEE shall be created, and other necessary support shall be provided, including increasing the number of kindergarten teacher positions, enhancing teacher training, and providing necessary allocations for classrooms, facilities, equipment, and textbooks.

Duties, Powers and Functions of DepEd (Section 7):
- Oversee and supervise the organization, operation and implementation of the kindergarten education program.
- Develop the curriculum for kindergarten education, consistent with universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation and use of the MTB-MLE.
- Develop teaching strategies using the unique feature of the MTB-MLE, including the two-track method, interactive strategies, use of manipulative games, experiential learning, and total physical response (TPR).
- Develop learning development materials, including listening stories, small books, big books, experience stories, primer lessons, and lesson exemplars.
- Conceive, develop and extend a continuing professional development program for kindergarten teachers.
- Prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation of kindergarten teachers.
- Exercise authority over the operation of private kindergarten institutions.
- Supervise the establishment of various venues for early childhood education, which shall be duly accredited by the DepEd.
- Introduce innovative programs in kindergarten, including educational technologies.

Appropriations (Section 8):
- The DepEd shall immediately include in the program the operationalization of the free, mandatory and compulsory public kindergarten education.
- The initial funding shall be charged against the current appropriations for kindergarten education of the DepEd.
- Thereafter, necessary funds shall be charged to the General Fund and included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 9):
- Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the implementation of this Act.

Separability Clause (Section 10):
- If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions.

Repealing Clause (Section 11):
- Pertinent provisions of all other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Effectivity Clause (Section 12):
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.