To: Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
All Others Concerned

1. The Department of Education (DepEd) has installed a Quality Assurance System to ensure delivery of quality basic education. It is a system of processes and tools to be applied so the desired knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the students can be attained at some expected level. Further, it is a system that requires coordinated and shared responsibility of all stakeholders of basic schooling to deliberately bring about quality education. The installation was brought about by the introduction of policy reforms embodied in the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA).
2. Accreditation is a quality assurance method. Through the accreditation process, schools are recognized for meeting required quality standards in all areas of their work: academic programs, teacher support, student services and more.
3. Part of the BESRA mandate is to harmonize the two accreditation systems: Accreditation Program for Public Elementary School (APPES) and Sterling Silver for High School. The objective is to encourage and at some point, even compel the schools to engage in the accreditation process after the schools have matured in the SBM level of practice.
4. The challenge is to establish an accreditation system that will not compromise the mission of the school, but rather assist the school in staying focused on its vision and provide it with the professional tools to build on its strengths as it improves and progresses in its mission.
5. Thus, in line with the Department’s effort through the BESRA-TWG-SBM and QAA/M&E to institutionalize the Quality Management System (QMS) using the ‘Modeling Approach’, a series of workshops to come up with an Accreditation Model for the National School Accreditation System was held. The product of which is the harmonized accreditation system tentatively called Philippine Accreditation System for Basic Education (PASBE).
6. In aid of policy formulation, major components of PASBE i.e. evaluation and accreditation process, are being pilot tested in select QMS and non-QMS modeling regions supervised by the Regional PASBE Core Teams under the guidance of the BESRA SBM- Sub-TWG-School Accreditation Core Group (Enclosure No. 1). Results will serve as basis to improve PASBE.
7. A total amount of Php7,484,000.00 is allotted for the Accreditation Program for Public Schools per GAA 2012 item B.I.e. Divided into two (@Php3,742,000), half is allotted for the PASBE formulation process, the other half is for the implementation of APPES. Part of the Accreditation Program for Public School support funds shall be utilized for the following remaining PASBE pilot activities (refer to 2012 School Accreditation Work and Financial Plan) for details to complete the PASBE policy formulation process:
   a. Finalization of PASBE Handbook
   b. Printing of PASBE Handbook
   c. Launch of PASBE
   d. Capacity-building of would-be PASBE accreditors
   e. PASBE Activation
8. Since the process is in the transition phase, the conduct of the PASBE pilot test will not in any way disrupt implementation of the APPES spearheaded by the Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE), until PASBE Policy is finalized and disseminated via a DepEd Order to be issued in December 2012 or earlier.
9. In the meantime, schools which are in the process of attaining APPES accreditation level shall continue to do so. APPES accreditation level certification received will remain and will still be an added school credential of the concerned elementary school.
10. Following the principle of continuous school improvement, APPES accredited schools may opt to apply for PASBE accreditation, once the latter takes effect as a policy, as long as the applicant schools comply with PASBE standards.
11. Considering the results of the onsite visit findings held from November 2011 to March 2012, funds will be downloaded to PASBE pilot regions (Enclosure No. 2) and will be utilized for the following activities:
    a. Technical assistance in the form of training, coaching/mentoring to concerned divisions and PASBE pilot schools (Enclosure No. 3)
    b. Monitoring and evaluation of performance of PASBE pilot school to keep itself on track
    c. Provision of materials relevant to the conduct of the abovementioned activities
12. As a general rule upon receipt of the funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Budget Division, Finance and Management Service (FMS), DepEd Central Office shall immediately issue Sub-Allotment Release Orders (Sub-AROs) to the concerned regional offices (ROs).
13. The regional directors (RDs) and/or schools division/city superintendents (SDSs) shall assign personnel and staff to be accountable for the judicious disbursement and allocation of downloaded funds with proper liquidation, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
14. The BESRA SBM-Sub-TWG-School Accreditation Secretariat shall monitor the utilization of funds and shall oblige the regions to submit PASBE Pilot Accomplishment Report through the Regional PASBE Core Teams using the enclosed format (Enclosure No. 4) and a copy of liquidation report which are due in September 2012.
15. Finally, an evaluation of the program shall be conducted by a composite team in accordance with the program implementation plan under the supervision of the Office of Planning Service (OPS).
16. For more information, please contact Ms. Ana Marie Hernandez, Lead for PASBE, DepEd Central Office, 5th Floor, Rm. 501, Bonifacio Bldg, DepEd Complex, Pasig City, telefax no.: (02) 636-50-96 or send a message at e-mail address:: depedsterlingsilver@gmail.com for PASBE.
17. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Encls.:
As stated
Reference:
DepEd Order: No. 92, s. 2011

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ALLOCATION
FUNDS
POLICY
PROGRAMS
PROJECTS
SCHOOLS

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