DECS ORDER 96, 1997 according to age, grade level, ability level

Policies and Guidelines in the Organization or interest; the creation of learning

and operation of Multigrade Classes centers or comers; and easy circulation of
1. Pursuant to the provisions of the both teachers and students.
Constitution that the State shall protect 2. The provision of textbooks and other support
and promote the rights of all citizens to instructional materials as follows:
quality education at all levels and take
appropriate steps to make education 1. Minimum Multigrade Instructional Package (MIP)
accessible to all, it is a declared policy of for teachers which shall consist of: 1) Minimum
the DECS to build a school in school-less Learning Competencies for MG Classes (MLC-MG),
barangays where enrolment and 2) Budget of Work for MG Classes (BW-MG). 3)
population growth trends warrant the Lesson Plan for MG Classes (LP- MG), and 4)
establishment of new schools and to Multigrade Teachers Handbook (MG-HB).
organize multigrade classes to offer the
complete six (6) grade levels to children in 2. Minimum Learning Package (MU) for multigrade
the remote barangays. pupils consisting of: 1) textbooks in all learning
2. IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM, THE areas on at least 1:2 textbook-pupil ratio or as
FOLLOWING POLICIES AND GUIDELINES much as possible on a 1:1 ratio, 2) the Multilevel
IN THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION Materials (MLMS) on at least 1 set to 3 pupils ratio.
OF MULTIGRADE CLASSES IN THE 3. Enrolment of more than 35 per class and
COUNTRY ARE BEING ISSUED: classes with more than 3 grades to a class.
4. THE MULTIGRADE CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM
DEFINITION. A multigrade class is defined Multigrade schools/classes shall offer the New
as a class of 2 or more grades under one Elementary Schools Curriculum (NESC) and adopt
teacher in a complete or incomplete any of the suggested class programs.
elementary school. 5. SUPPORT, WELFARE AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM
FOR MULTI GRADE TEACHERS
2. ORGANIZATION OF MULTIGRADE CLASSES V. Support, Welfare and Incentive Program for
Multigrade Teachers
Regional Directors and Schools Division To attract and retain effective teachers in
Superintendents shall organize multigrade schools the following measures should
Multigrade classes to provide access to be implemented:
schools for children in far-flung
barangays and to complete incomplete 1. Regular monitoring of MG classes to sustain
schools. The minimum enrolment of 8 training gains and to provide them with technical
pupils and the maximum of 35 pupils per as well as instructional support. In consideration, of
class shall be observed. Whenever the difficulty in reaching these schools due to
possible and when teachers and other distance and poor and/or irregular transportation
facilities warrant, MG classes composed facilities, principals or supervisors are authorized
of more than three (3) grades per class to collect actual transportation expenses incurred
should be converted to at most 3 grades during monitoring and/or supervisory visits
to a class.
3. SCHOOL PLANT, FACILITIES, AND FURNITURE 2. regular training of MG teachers on multigrade
OF MULTIGRADE CLASSES teaching in the district, division and /or regional
level should be given priority share from the 5%
Regional Directors and Schools Division INSET funds.
Superintendents give priority to
multigrade classes in: 3. Whenever resources/situations permit, at least
one (1) classroom should be designated as a
1. Allocating 3-room school building to MG lodging place for teachers/school administrators
classes without standard building or whose residences are considerably far from the
where the existing building is in need of school.
total rehabilitation. 4. granting of the Special Hardship Allowance for
The classroom layout as well as furniture MG Teachers (SHA-MG).
should facilitate multigrade teaching and - "Hardship Allowance to Eligible Public
learning. It should allow for: School Teachers" provided for in DECS
grouping/regrouping of school children Order No. 73. s. 1996,
 - Allowance for multigrade teachers shall Light in the Class. Learners should be reminded to
be issued in separate DECS Order on a open their windows in order to allow fresh air in
year to year basis. the classroom.
3. Provisions of DECS Order 38, s. 1993 not If classrooms are not well ventilated, the learners
superseded in this Order are deemed still in effect. will be drowsy.
Reading Corner. This is an area where you and the
G2 IV. The Multigrade Curriculum and learners could bring relevant teaching material
Program such as readers, magazines, games, stories and
Teaching Multigrade Class (2 ways) compositions written by the learners. This area
● The curriculum for the grades being must be comfortable. You could bring floor mats
combined is integrated, that is, common and cushions for the learners to sit on. Perhaps,
elements from the different year the cushions could be donated by parents.
programs are combined into one Learning Centres. It can be used to enhance
program for the class. multigrade teaching activities. The centers can be
● The learning is student centred, not grade arranged so that learners are in groups. Materials
level centred. The needs of the student appropriate for different age levels could be
determine the teaching and learning; placed in different areas so that the learners can
learning is student driven. work on their own.
The Multigrade classroom may look quite different
G3 DECS order no. 96, s . 1997: ENCLOSURE 1
to a traditional classroom. Instead of desks in lines,
Physical arrangement - plays a big important
all facing the chalkboard, you may see:
role in terms of the learning and development of
● Desks organized into small groupings.
the students. The way the teacher organizes the
● A space in the centre of the room, or
available resources, reflects how knowledgeable
perhaps some marked spaces around the
the teacher is in terms of bringing out the
room where groups can sit on the floor
capability of every student.
and work.
● Workstations or learning centers, where
multigrade classroom, organizing the seats,
individuals and groups may go to
tables, toys, instructional materials, outputs of the
complete activities. These will be made by
students and other materials found in the
the teacher and could include math,
classroom is essential because this helps in
writing, language centers, or focus on the
enhancing the learning environment.
theme being taught.
● Resources kept on shelves around the
Classroom organization is a way of arranging
outside of the room, in boxes which are
seating or sitting positions and various learning
labeled to help the group identify what
centres in a classroom.
they need.
Varies according to circumstances:
● Boxes or folders for student’s work to be
● available resources, the learners, the
kept in.
environment, the curriculum, learner ages,
(SUGGESTED LAYOUT)
the number of learners, the health of the
G4 ENCLOSURE 2
learners, the training level and experience
Features of Multigrade Classroom
of the teacher and the number of grades
1. Learning Corners/Centers/Areas
in a class.
- These are semi-private spaces (ideally
partially enclosed by a low blackboard,
The seating arrangement in a multigrade class is
easel or shelf) for small group or
very important because it enhances the learning
individual work, with or without teachers
environment.
guidance/supervision.
seating arrangement
- contain a rich collection of materials
Students’ Desks. Frequently, teachers tend to
designed to cater to several ability levels,
allocate desks or tables to learners but fail to
interests and learning needs of school
guide learners on how to care for their desks.
children.
Learners need to know how to keep their desks
Example:
tidy.
● Art, music, and dramatic corner
Walls. light colors such as white, light blue and
● Kitchen, cooking, and home corner
light pink influence learning in a positive way. In
● Writing and reading corner
some cases, the school can buy the paint and the
● Mathematics and problem-solving corner
Parents and Teachers Association can paint your
● Library corners, storytelling activities
classroom.
2. Black boards - As much as possible these - Subjects using Filipino as medium of
should be placed on opposite walls of the room to instruction such as CE/GMRC;
permit flexibility in arranging and moving about SK/Heograpiys, Kasaysayan at Sibika;
the classroom. Edukasyong Pantahanan at
3. Classroom Furniture - such as tables, chairs, Pangkabuhayan, Music, Art, Physical
small benches, or desks. Education; and Filipino as a subject are
4. Display boards/shelves - These are open or taught on Mondays, Wednesday, and
closed display or storage cabinets for books and Fridays while those in English) like
materials in use. Mathematics, Science and Health. and
5. Ventilation and Lighting - As much as possible English as a subject is taught on Tuesdays
sitting students in direct sunlight or inadequately and Thursdays.
lighted areas should be minimized or totally
avoided.
6. Outdoor Space - outdoor space which should be
utilized to the fullest during fine weather. The
outdoor space is the best learning laboratory for
several subjects like Science and Health,
Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan,
Sibika at Kultura/HKS, and Music/Art, & Physical
Education.
ENCLOSURE 3
Suggested Program Options For Multigrade
1.SUBJECT STAGGERING
- Also known as " split timetable"
- Subjects requiring more teacher-pupil
interaction are grouped with those
requiring less, e.g in a 3-grades class, one
or two grades work independently on Arts
while the teacher works intensively with
another group in English or Math. The two
grades may be assigned different
activities with pupil leaders monitoring the
activity.
2. SUBJECT INTEGRATION
- Subjects which easily lend themselves to
integration are presented by the teacher
to all grades at the same time. This may
be done in Filipino and Sibika at Kultura or
Good Manners and Right Conduct, or in
English and Science and Health.
3.COMMON TIMETABLE
- A subject is presented to all grades by the
teacher in & given schedule with each
grade having a prescribed work program
planned by the teacher Age, grade level.
For example, in a class of 3-grades
Grades 1,2, & 3 may be undertaking
Science and Health from 9:00 to 9.40 AM.
then Mathematics for 60 minutes after
recess. All the other subjects follow the
same pattern.
4. INTEGRATED DAY
- There is no fixed timetable in this option.
Pupils as independent learners are free to
choose what subjects to study and when.
5. SUBJECT GROUPING