Only private schools are covered by the new cutoff age for the Grade 1 level, Department of Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said in an interview on Unang Balita on Friday.
"Ang pinag-uusapan lamang natin dito ay 'yung mga mag-aaral sa pampribadong paaralan dahil sa atin pong mga pampublikong paaralan, kasado na po 'yan," he explained. "Okay na po tayo sa public schools."
Umali said the age requirement was needed as some private schools fail to abide by the cut-off date for kindergarten as prescribed by Republic Act 10157 or the Universal Kindergarten Bill.
"Nagkakaproblema po sila pagdating ho ng Grade 1 kasi po may requirement po kami na dapat naka-enrol po 'yan sa aming Learner's Information System para makakuha po ng unique number 'yung bata," he said.
"When they try to enroll the name of the child ay hindi po sila makakuha dahil the system is designed in such a way na kapag ang bata ay nag-pass ng August 31st, ay made-deny po 'yung application nila," Umali continued.
As of June 1, 2017, the age requirement for kindergarten was set at five years old.
RA 10157 institutionalized kindergarten education as part of basic education and was partially implemented for school year 2011 to 2012.
Only children aged six or will turn six before August 31, 2018, with a Learner's Reference Number (LRN) from completing Kindergarten, may enroll in Grade 1 under the new scheme.
Umali made the clarification days after parents with children who completed Kindergarten expressed concern that they would not be able to enter Grade 1 this coming school year.
"'Yan po ay binase sa pag-aaral, at madali naman pong i-validate 'yan whether the age that we are talking about here is the same age not only in the Philippines, but in other countries, ganyan po talaga 'yan," he said.
Umali reasoned that the department order changing the minimum age for Grade 1 was based on the stage of development for that age group and how well they will be able to absorb the modules of that grade level.
He said parents with children who will miss the cut-off date by a few days may contact DepEd for further information.
The undersecretary said DepEd has supervisory power over private schools.
"We have the power to ensure private schools are complying with the rules and regulations of DepEd at lahat po ng batas at 'yung edad na pinag-uusapan po natin para makapasok... 'yan po ay isang alituntunin na ating pinapatupad," Umali said. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News
Source: gmanetwork
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