MANILA, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III signed two new laws this week aimed at improving the health care and education systems.
The President signed on Tuesday Republic Act 10618 or “An Act Establishing Rural Farm Schools as Alternative Delivery Mode of Secondary Education and Appropriating Funds Thereof.”
Republic Act 10618 will be known as Rural Farm Schools Act.
Implemented by the Department of Education, the new law aims to provide alternative mode of secondary education in rural areas. Public rural farm schools will be free of charge but private rural farm schools could collect minimal fee under the law.
Relatives of CARP beneficiaries however will be exempted from payments if they enroll in private rural farm schools.
DepEd, being the implementing agency, will institutionalize education standards in rural farm schools to maintain credibility and academic integrity.
After one year of implementation, the DepEd is expected to encourage the establishment of at least one public rural farm school in every province in the country.
The curriculum of the rural farm schools will follow the guideline set by the DepEd for secondary education with an addition however focusing on agri-fishery arts.
Other supporting agencies will be the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Agricultur, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Agricultural Training Institute.
Rural farm schools will receive funding from the annual General Appropriations Act.