Commonwealth Act No. 80 - Office of Adult Education

Objectives and Organization of Adult Education

• The objectives of adult education are to eliminate illiteracy and provide vocational and citizenship training.
• The Office of Adult Education is established under the Department of Public Instruction.
• The Chief of the Office of Adult Education is known as the Director of Adult Education.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Director and Staff

• The Director of Adult Education is appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the National Assembly.
• The Director's annual compensation is not to exceed five thousand pesos.
• The Director has subordinate personnel, whose aggregate salaries are not to exceed ten thousand pesos per annum.
• The Director appoints subordinate personnel with the approval of the Secretary of Public Instruction.

Funding and Resource Allocation

• No salary is paid from the funds appropriated by the National Government for the promotion of adult education to teachers or other persons engaged in adult education work.
• The Director of Adult Education may authorize the payment of moderate allowances to persons who regularly hold classes from month to month.
• Funds are allocated for the printing of charts, books, pamphlets, and other school materials, and for defraying the traveling and other necessary expenses of persons who may engage in this work.
• An amount of one hundred thousand pesos is appropriated from the Philippine Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Operation and Administration

• The Office of Adult Education is responsible for conducting surveys to determine the extent and distribution of illiteracy among adults.
• The Office enlists the interest and cooperation of organizations on adult education activities.
• The Office prepares a comprehensive program for adult education work, organizes and supervises schools and classes for adults, and disseminates instructive cultural and vocational information.
• The Office secures lecturers, demonstrators, extension and follow-up workers for adult education, and trains teachers and community organizers for adult education.
• The Office cooperates with various bureaus and associations in undertakings concerned with vocational training and the improvement of living conditions.
• The Office prepares statistics and reports on its activities and the means for carrying out its objectives.
• The Office's publications have free use of the mails.

Timeline and Amendments

• Commonwealth Act No. 80 was approved on October 26, 1936.
• Executive Order No. 94 was issued on October 4, 1947, converting the Office of Adult Education into the Adult and Community Education Division under the Bureau of Public Schools.