RLA BILL NO. 42
Republic of the Philippines
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Cotabato City
[ MUSLIM MINDANAO AUTONOMY ACT NO. 303 ]
Begun and held in Cotabato City, on Monday, the twenty-second day of October 2012.
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN
THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Strengthened Basic Education
Act in ARMM of 2012.
Section 2. Applicability. This Act shall provide the philosophy, principles and policy
governing the Strengthened Basic Educational System of formal public and private schools,
alternative learning system, non-formal education, special needs education, madaris, and
education in emergencies including those that are existing and operating as well as those that
may be organized hereafter within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Section 3. Declaration of Policy and Principles. The Regional Government shall
uphold the primacy of education, provide free public compulsory basic education comprising of
universal kindergarten, elementary education and free secondary education and madrasah
education as mandated by the Constitution and existing laws, provide free alternative learning
system for out-of-school children and youth, adult learners, indigenous peoples, and differentlyabled children; and formulate appropriate measures and guidelines to ensure its effective
implementation.
To achieve this purpose, it is the policy of Autonomous Regional Government to develop
the full potential of its graduates by providing a holistic and integrated system to develop
individuals capable of thinking critically and independently, who value inner peace, human
rights multiculturalism, sustainable development, life-long learning and social justice. Thus, the
Regional Government and education stakeholders shall adopt policies and programs towards