Creation of National Steering Committee for Enhanced Science and Mathematics Education Teacher Training Program

February 4, 1998

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 378

CREATING THE NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE FOR AN ENHANCED SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM

WHEREAS, it is necessary to strengthen the Philippines' performance in Science and Mathematics in order to maximize the contribution of our country's vast human resources in attaining our goals of industrialization and economic development;

WHEREAS, among the recommendations during the 02 July 1997 Workshop on Pole-Vaulting into the 21st Century is to improve the quality of Science and Mathematics education in the country in view of the need to upgrade the performance level/competitiveness of our teachers and students in the areas of Science and Mathematics;

WHEREAS, among the "must-do" programs for the government's Pole-Vaulting Strategy to the 21st Century is to establish "The Philippines as the Knowledge Center in the Asia-Pacific" whereby the country shall be capable of providing excellent education, training and research, and world class professional services, as well as efficient and adaptive knowledge-based industry in the Asia-Pacific which is people-oriented and globally competitive;

WHEREAS, there is need to formulate and implement a five-year teacher training program for Science and Mathematics teachers and create a National Steering Committee to ensure the effective planning and implementation of the said training program.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation of the National Steering Committee for an Enhanced Science and Mathematics Education Teacher Training Program. — There is hereby created the National Steering Committee for an Enhanced Science and Mathematics Education Teachers Training Program, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, which shall act as the policy-making and major resource allocation body for the effective implementation of Project RISE: Rescue Initiative for Science Education, a five-year teacher training program for Science and Mathematics teachers at the public and private elementary, secondary and post-secondary technical/vocational schools nationwide.

^* SECTION 3. Composition. — The Committee shall be composed of the Secretary of Science and Technology (DOST), as Chairman and Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) as Co-Chairman, and the following, as members:

a. Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

b. Director-General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

c. Representative, Presidential Management Staff (PMS)

d. Director, Science Education Institute (SEI)

e. Representative, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

f. Three (3) Representatives from the private sector, who shall be nominated by the Committee Chairman and appointed by the President.

SECTION 4. Functions. — The Committee shall have the following functions:

1. Formulate a five-year massive training program for Science and Mathematics teachers at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary public and private schools nationwide;

2. Oversee the effective and synchronized implementation of the five-year plan by concerned agencies;

3. Formulate strategies for strengthening capabilities of training institutions such as but not limited to Regional Science Training Centers (RSTC) of DOST, Centers of Excellence (COE) and Centers of Development (COD) of CHED for the conduct of training programs;

4. Devise and implement resource development scheme to ensure continued allocation of program funds;

5. Assess overall progress of the teacher training program, and review monitoring and evaluation results;

6. Create sub-committees at the national and regional levels and appoint their respective chairpersons and members;

7. Submit quarterly reports to the President; and

8. Perform such other tasks as may be directed by the President.

SECTION 5. Staff Support. — The Science Education Institute (SEI) shall provide the technical, secretariat and administrative support to the Committee and establish a training project implementation and coordinating staff (TPICS).

SECTION 6. Funding. — Budgetary requirements for 1998 shall be sourced from the budget allocation of DOST, DECS, CHED and TESDA and from other sources to be determined by the DBM until such time that the proposed bill institutionalizing Project RISE shall have been approved.

SECTION 7. Hiring of Experts/Specialists. — The Committee is hereby authorized to set aside a portion of its fund allocation for the hiring of qualified consultants, experts and resource persons for various technical services to effectively implement the program.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 4th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Eight.