8.

Preschools
Preschool education is recognized as a stage where early childhood development has long
been felt. The present standards for preschool education consider the child, the teacher and the
school with the support of the family in maximizing the childs potentials and his capacity for
learning. The stimulating and meaningful experiences provided in all aspects that will make him
a socially sensitive, independent, spiritual and rational individual. The teacher is therefore
expected to come up with a class program suited to the needs of the children in a particular
school.
Hereunder are the standards for the physical environment (minimum requirements for the
school site, the physical facilities and the learning equipment for a preschool).
a. Nursery (Pre Kindergarten)
Nursery is the level of education below kindergarten, the admission age for which is at
least three (3) years but not more than four (4) years old. As stated in MEC Order No.
24, s. 1978 dated July 26, 1978 the following standards for the organization and
operation of Nursery classes are required:
Class Size maximum of 15 children to a class
Class hours 2 hours daily
Physical Structure floor area of at least 7m x 9m in a 500 to 1,000 square meters lot
a. Toilet and washing facilities must be adequate enough to serve the number of
enrollees.
b. Hazards to safety of small children must be looked into such as wells, diggings,
stairways, pools, electric installations, etc. to minimize or eliminate accidents

c. Activity Centers
o Listening/Speaking and Acting area
o Reading corner o Housekeeping area
o Aesthetic Center
o Work area
o Health/Cleanliness area
o Playground
b. School Site (for Kindergarten only)

1. Alternative space for playground nearest park or open space not more than 200
meters from walking distance from the school. This arrangement must be approved
in writing by the authorized representative of the park or open space.

2.

School site must be used for educational purposes only, must not serve as
residence of the owner and should not be a convertible school (during day time is
used as school and after class hours is a residence or used for commercial
purposes)
3. Provision for office, teachers room, music and library room or rooms combining any
two of these must be considered.
Classroom size should be 1.5 square meters per child

c. Equipments

a. Playground and Garden

Playground apparatuses must be installed in the school ground (jungle gym, sandbox, slide,
balance beams, simple obstacles tires and tunnels)
b. Classroom Equipment and Fixtures
Furniture (tables,chairs, shelves, lockers and cabinets must conform to the standards
based on an anthropometric measurement of preschool age children, both in standing
and sitting positions.
Beds and/or mats may be provided for rest periods.
d. Health Facilities and Provisions for Safety
At least one (1) toilet seat for every 25 children at one time, preferably with separate
bath room for boys and girls
First aid kits must be available
A rest area may be provided for children. (free from hazards such as diggings,
stairways, pools, open electric wires and unsafe outlets)
Proper and adequate lighting and ventilation
there should be natural and electric lighting
for a 7 x 9 classroom, at least two (2) 40 watt fluorescent lamps and one (1)wide
window *
Electric fans to allow cross ventilation.
e. Activity Centers or areas which may contain the following or their equivalent:
* Personal Care and Grooming mirror, comb, towel, toothbrush, soap, toiletries, etc.
* House and Garden Care garden tools (shovel, spade, pails, sprinklers, sandtable, cleaning
tools, etc.)
* Communication Skills Corner books (two books per child) story books, science/nature
books, Filipiniana, etc.
* Sensory-Perceptual and Numeracy Skills Corner Science and Mathematics Corner
(counters, beads, number cards, nature tables, etc.)

f.

Motor and Creative Development Corner

percussion instruments (bamboo castanets, coconut maracas), tambourine, tape recorder or

phonograph
DepED Order No. 93, S. 2009 (September 10, 2009) PreSchool Building Program,
prescribes the Classroom and Furniture Design for Pre-school (including floor plan and furniture
designs).