Republic Act No. 11255: An act recognizing the everest academy as an educational institution of international character and granting the academy certain prerogatives to promote its development

Seventeenth Congress Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 11255

An Act Recognizing the Everest Academy As an Educational Institution of International Character and Granting the Academy Certain Prerogatives to Promote Its Development

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

The Everest Academy, herein referred to as the "Academy", registered as Everest International Academy, is hereby declared and officially recognized as a basic educational institution of international character authorized to operate educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and recognized educational policies.

Section 2

The Academy shall be governed by a board of trustees, herein referred to as the "Board", elected in accordance with its corporate character.

Section 3

To enable the Academy to continue carrying out its educational program, improve its standard of instruction, and meet the special needs of the foreign diplomatic and temporary resident community for quality education, it shall:

(a)Accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance with its own eligibility standards, and rules for admission and grade placement, the Academy having been established primarily for foreign diplomatic personnel and their dependents and for other temporary residents and, as such, the Academy shall be covered by the exemptions provided in Section 4(2), Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution;

(b)Be managed and administered by a Head of the Academy, who shall possess the qualifications prescribed by the Board;

(c)Upon consultation with the Secretary of Education, determine its own curriculum, calendar of studies and work schedule, teach whatever language it may deem appropriate and determine the reasonable amount of fees which shall be imposed upon its students to maintain and conform to the Academys standard of education;

(d)Maintain standards of education compatible with those obtaining in similar schools of generally recognized international standing;

(e)Employ its own teaching and management personnel selected by the Board either locally or abroad, from the Philippines or other nationalities; such foreign personnel being exempt from laws that impose nationality restrictions on employment, and control of administration of educational institutions, except laws that have been or will be enacted for the protection of employees: Provided, That such exemption shall not extend to their liability for income taxes; and (f) Enjoy the privileges provided by law to nonstock, nonprofit educational institutions.

Section 4

The Academy shall be under the supervision and regulation of the Department of Education (DepEd) and shall adhere to basic laws, and rules and regulations of the DepEd governing international or foreign schools.

Section 5

Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the members of the Board of the Everest Academy, shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.

Section 6

If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

Section 7

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

VICENTE C. SOTTO III President of the Senate

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act was passed by the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 7005 on November 26, 2018 and adopted by the Senate as an amendment to Senate Bill No. 1413 on January 23, 2019.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

Secretary of the Senate

DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING

Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: March 29, 2019

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

President of the Philippines

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.

In plain language