Miriam wants universal prekindergarten program for Pinoy kids
Kim Tan, GMA News
04/08/2011 | 01:24 PM
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill seeking to establish a free and universal prekindergarten program for Filipino children.
If Senate Bill 2740 will be passed, the Department of Education will develop a "high-quality, full-day, full-calendar-year" universal prekindergarten program for all Filipino children from three to five years old.
"High-quality prekindergarten programs help children to succeed academically. Children who attended a high-quality prekindergarten program supposedly have higher academic achievement, lower rates of grade retention, are less likely to be placed in special education, and graduate from high school at higher rates than those who did not," Santiago said in her explanatory note.
The proposed prekindergarten program specifies the following:
Kim Tan, GMA News
04/08/2011 | 01:24 PM
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill seeking to establish a free and universal prekindergarten program for Filipino children.
If Senate Bill 2740 will be passed, the Department of Education will develop a "high-quality, full-day, full-calendar-year" universal prekindergarten program for all Filipino children from three to five years old.
"High-quality prekindergarten programs help children to succeed academically. Children who attended a high-quality prekindergarten program supposedly have higher academic achievement, lower rates of grade retention, are less likely to be placed in special education, and graduate from high school at higher rates than those who did not," Santiago said in her explanatory note.
The proposed prekindergarten program specifies the following:
- a maximum class size of 20 children;
- a ratio of not more than 10 children for each member of the teaching staff;
- age and developmentally appropriate educational curriculum that will prepare children for kindergarten classes;
- community support services for students and their families;
- parental involvement in the prekindergarten program, and
- continuing early childhood education and development for teachers.
Background check on school employees
Meanwhile, Santiago also filed SB 2750 which seeks to require the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct background checks on prospective school employees.
According to the measure, the hiring administrator must consider the results of the background check before hiring prospective school employees.
"This bill will help school officials to effectively identify sexual predators during the employment application process," said Santiago.
The bill also mandates the school to report any identified sexual offender.
SB 2740 also bars schools from employing any individual as a school bus driver if he or she has been convicted of an offense involving a vehicular accident or any serious traffic offenses.
Meanwhile, Santiago also filed SB 2750 which seeks to require the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct background checks on prospective school employees.
According to the measure, the hiring administrator must consider the results of the background check before hiring prospective school employees.
"This bill will help school officials to effectively identify sexual predators during the employment application process," said Santiago.
The bill also mandates the school to report any identified sexual offender.
SB 2740 also bars schools from employing any individual as a school bus driver if he or she has been convicted of an offense involving a vehicular accident or any serious traffic offenses.
I totally agree about her proposal. Hindi biro ang sitwasyon ng mga mag-aaral ngayon lalong-lalo na sa mga pampublikong paaralan. Mababa na ang kalidad kumpara noon. Kung dati ay nakakabasa na ng mabilis ang nasa Grade 1, ngayon ay hirap na hirap pa sila. Tama rin na magkaroon ng background check ang mga school employees dahil sila ang madalas na kasama ng mga chikiting. Walang magulang ang may gustong mapahamak ang kanyang anak habang nasa loob ito ng paaralan.
Actually, maraming dapat ayusin sa sistema ng edukasyon. Gasgas man ang linyang "education is the key to success" subalit hindi kailanman magagasgas ang kahulugan nito. Sa edukasyon ng mga mamamayan nakasalalay ang pundasyon ng matibay na bansa kaya nawa'y dinggin ang panukalang ito ng mga mambabatas.
Madam Melanie, maganda ito na magawa kaysa yun K-12 kasi maraming galit dun at dagdag. Sana bigyan pansin ito ng mambabatas at bale walain ng lang yun 11-12 grades. Intstead of adding 2 more year, the government should have 2 year post high school education in all towns all over Philippines.
ReplyDeleteI love Senator Santiago (Parang palakasing at palawaking lang yun vocational.
PAK na PAK ka diyan 'teh Anonymous April 9, 2011 2:48 PM. Kalokohan ang K-12 na yan. Paigtingin at taasan lang ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas at hindi na natin kailangan pang magdagdag ng ilang taon sa elementarya at high school. Isa ang mga Pilipino sa pinaka matatalino sa buong mundo.
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