My Reflection on Republic Act 9155

(Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001)

JUNITO C. COMEROS, Ph.D.-EdMgt 2 Student

I learned that R.A. 9155 is an act instituting a frame work of governance for basic
education, establishing authority and accountability, renaming the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports as the Department of Education and for other purposes. The Act is
known as "Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001." During the assembly the
declaration of policy of the state to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality
basic education and to make such education accessible to all Filipino children a free and
compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the high school level
was made. Alternative Learning Systems was also reiterated for out of school youth and
adult. The goal of basic education is to provide students and learners with skills, knowledge
and values they need to become caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizens.
Governance of basic education shall begin at the national level; it is at the regions,
divisions, schools and learning centers.
The State shall encourage local initiatives for improving the quality of basic
education. The State shall ensure that the values, needs and aspirations of a school
community are reflected in the program of education for the children, out-of-school youth
and adult learners. Schools and learning centers shall be empowered to make decisions on
what is best for the learners they serve.
It was also being emphasized in the report of Mr. SalehMakiin about the roles and
responsibilities of the school head. Accordingly, a school head, who may be assisted by an
assistant school head, shall be both an instructional leader and administrative manager.
The school head shall form a team with the school teachers/learning facilitators for delivery
of quality educational programs, projects and services.the school heads shall have
authority, accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Setting the mission, vision, goals and objectives of the school;
(2) Creating an environment within the school that is conducive to teaching and
learning;
(3) Implementing the school curriculum and being accountable for higher learning
outcomes;
(4) Developing the school education program and school improvement plan;
(5) Offering educational programs, projects and services which provide equitable
opportunities for all learners in the community;
 (6) Introducing new and innovative modes of instruction to achieve higher learning
outcomes;
(7) Administering and managing all personnel, physical and fiscal resources of the
school;
(8) Recommending the staffing complement of the school based on its needs;
(9) Encouraging staff development;
(10) Establishing school and community networks and encouraging the active
participation of teachers’ organizations, non-academic personnel of public schools, and
parents-teacherscommunity associations;
(11) Accepting donations, gifts, bequests and grants for the purpose of upgrading
teachers’/learning facilitators’ competencies, improving and expanding school facilities and
providing instructional materials and equipment. Such donations or grants must be reported
to the appropriate district supervisors and division superintendents; and
(12) Performing such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities.
I realized thatthe role of the school head covers many different areas including
leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, and many others. Being an effective
school is hard work and is also time-consuming. A good school head is balanced within all
the roles head and works hard to ensure that they are doing what they feel is best for all
constituents involved. Time is a major limiting factor for every school head. He/She must
become efficient at practices such as prioritizing, scheduling, and organization.
School principals are the key leaders in our educational system. They are
responsible of carrying out the school vision and mission. School principals play integral
roles in making schools function smoothly. They are involved in all aspects of the school’s
operation. They are the leaders responsible in providing leadership in the development and
implementation of all educational programs and projects in the school. They play a vital role
in achieving the government’s aim to provide quality basic education.
School principals have to face new challenges brought forth by advances in
technology and higher expectations on education from the community, these include the
use of information technology to support teaching and learning; adaptation of the school
curriculum to suit the ability and disposition of the young children as to maximize their
potential and not to give up on each individual pupil; increasing community expectations for
improvements to the educational system and the quality of learning processes and
outcomes; a growing awareness of teacher professionalism; globalization of the world
economy and the emergence of a knowledge-based economy which demands workers with
multiple intelligence and creativity; life-long learning and the notion of school as a learning
organization.
It simply means that the lives of the school principals are packed with challenges.
What matters most is the manner how these are dealt with. Hence, school leadership is
very challenging. It requires a paradigm shift, from the traditional way of management. It
also requires change, collegiality, teamwork, and even efficiency and effectiveness.
These new challenges require school principals to take on new leadership skills in
quality development and quality assurance. They also highlight the need for more focused
and systematic school leadership training and development programs to enhance the
quality of school leadership they already possess.
Personally, I will adhere to the fact the plans of the government are so wonderful
and promising. Our government has done many good things to better Philippine education. I
could will really see the heart and the purity of its intentions in having this RA 9155. I have
to appreciate the consonance of the policy, purposes and objectives, and the principles
enunciated in R.A. 9155. Moreover, embedded in this act are the roles of a school head. I
have to concur to the idea that leadership is all about creativity, innovation, and planning to
help you reach your visions. I do believe that strategic people think and act before they
have totake up a defensive or reactive position. True leadership entails ability to make
sound, reasoned decisions-specifically consequential decisions with grave implications.
Certainly, since the main purpose why schools exist is the shaping of a child into a
desirable citizen in the land, I strongly believe that school leaders and quality education and
reform advocates should work hard to establish what they think is the ideal in their
respective schools. It all boil down to the fact that citizens and stakeholders must lend their
helping hands to support their school leaders if they desire quality education for their
children. They must and should be wise enough to identify the gems in a heap of sand or
straw. After all, as an African proverb says, “It takes a village to educate a child.”