To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau/Regional/Service/Center Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Head of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. The following guidelines shall be adopted for the organization of classes for public elementary and secondary schools in every schoolyear:
   1. Children who will be six years old by the opening of classes (June 5, 2006 for schoolyear 2006-2007) are eligible for enrolment in Grade I. The birth certificate of the child shall be the documentary basis for admission. In case this is not available, an affidavit attesting to the birth of the child executed by two persons can be submitted.
      Children who are younger than six years old by at most six months may be admitted to Grade I provided their readiness for school has been assessed positively by the school where they are applying for admission through the School Readiness Assessment Tool.
   2. Pupils/students who wish to transfer to a public school from another public school or from a private school should bring the Form 138 (Report Card) to the school where they intend to transfer. If this document is not available, the child can be admitted on condition that the Report Card shall be submitted not later than the end of the First Grading Period.
   3. The ideal class size shall range from a minimum of 15 pupils/students to a maximum of 65 pupils/students per class. The ideal average class size shall be 50.
   4. Whenever possible, classes in grades I to III, should, not exceed 40 pupils per class in order to keep the teaching-learning process more manageable during these foundation years of schooling. In addition the most competent and/or most experienced teachers should be assigned to these grade levels, particularly in Grade I.
2. The guidelines contained in DepEd Order No. 32, 2003 entitled “Additional Policy on Enrollment in Public Schools” (copy attached) are reiterated.
3. Double shift sessions shall be adopted to the extent practicable in elementary and secondary schools stipulated in DepEd Order No. 62, s. 2004 entitled “Adoption of Double-Shift Policy in Public Schools to Address Classroom Shortage” (copy attached).
4. The assigned teaching load of a teacher shall not exceed six hours of actual classroom teaching in accordance with the provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670).
5. All school heads must send to their respective Division Offices a letter acknowledging receipt o f t his DepEd Order including – the date of receipt and committing to comply with its provisions.
6. The DEtxt service may be used as a quick response mechanism to secure from the Central Office any clarification to any of the provisions of this Order.
7. These guidelines shall continue to remain in force in succeeding schoolyears unless modified or repealed.
8. For immediate dissemination and compliance.

Encls.: As stated
References: DepED Order: Nos. 32, s. 2003 and 62, s. 2004
Allotment: 1—(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ADMISSION or ENROLMENT
CLASSES
POLICY
PUPILS
STUDENTS

DO_s2006_21