Senator Win Gatchalian on Monday proposed the creation of a National Public School Database to streamline the enrollment process of students. 

Gatchalian’s call came following the opening of the early registration in public schools as he filed Senate Bill 478 or the Public School Database Act mandating the Department of Education to develop, operate and maintain the consolidated database of learners’ information nationwide. 

The database shall contain school grades, personal data, good moral records, and improved tracking of learners.

The National Public School Database shall also include other learners’ specific data including exam scores, grade levels, and attendance. It shall also consolidate immunization records to record learners’ biographical data, handle admissions and discharges, and transfer to other schools. 

School administrators shall have access to these data to timely, relevant, and accurate information to help them perform their tasks more efficiently.

Under the bill, the DepEd shall further be mandated to formulate a Database Information Program that will educate professionals on the development of the National Public School Database, as well as the maintenance of the information it contains. 

In filing the bill, Gatchalian lamented that paper-based documents can be easily damaged and lost due to fragile storage, flood, fire, and other disasters. 

Thus, online database storage will keep school heads and teachers assured of preservation and easy access to important school documents. 

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said a national public school database would facilitate systematic monitoring of learners’ records and progress—which are vital in school assessment, planning, and setting of operational targets.

“We have seen how crucial the use of technology during the pandemic, not only in teaching modality but also in operating and management of the schools,” he added.