DepEd pushes free kindergarten for 5-year-olds

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education (DepEd) hopes for the passage of a bill institutionalizing free public kindergarten in time for the new school year as the measure took another step forward in Congress this month.

Upon endorsement by the House of Representatives, the Senate recently approved a bill integrating kindergarten into formal basic schooling. The measure aims to better prepare 5-year-olds for entry into grade school in hopes of preventing early dropout incidence.

The bill is expected to be taken up in bicameral hearings when Congress resumes in May, said DepEd spokesperson Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali.

“We look forward to the convening of a bicameral conference and the passage of the reconciled measure in both Houses of Congress so that we could timely implement this measure by the next school year,” Umali said.

“The passage of this measure in the Senate will surely show the commitment of our partners in Congress to our Philippine Education for all agenda which aims, among others, to achieve universal primary education for our children,” said the official.

While the bill remains pending, DepEd has initiated steps to expand the public kindergarten program before school resumes in June. Earlier this year, DepEd issued a nationwide call for parents to register their 5-year-olds in the kindergarten program.

“Studies show that a quality preschool education will also help DepEd’s efforts to totally eliminate dropouts and repetition in Grades 1 to 3,” Umali said.

DepEd started summer kindergarten sessions earlier this month while formal kindergarten will also open in June. These steps are in line with DepEd’s K+12 (Kindergarten plus 12 years) proposal, which seeks to institutionalize kindergarten and extend the 10-year basic education cycle by two more years.