Establishment of the Strong Republic School (SRS), a Distance Learning School, to Bring Educational Opportunities to Identified Disadvantaged Communities

December 29, 2003

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 266

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STRONG REPUBLIC SCHOOL (SRS), A DISTANCE LEARNING SCHOOL, TO BRING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO IDENTIFIED DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES

WHEREAS, the building of a Strong Republic requires an educated citizenry able to contribute to meeting the needs of the community; aTcIEH

WHEREAS, the combination of demographic growth, resource constraints and the socio-political conditions hampers government efforts to provide livelihood opportunities, education and other social services to the more remote and often conflict-ridden areas of the country;

WHEREAS, distance-learning technologies offer a way of meeting the development needs of these areas;

NOW, THEREFORE I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Establishment of SRS. — The Strong Republic School (SRS), a Distance Learning Program shall be established under the Department of Education (DepEd). The SRS shall take a three-track approach: through the formal school system; through the alternative learning systems of the Bureau of Non-Formal Education; and through orientation and training courses offered by other government agencies. ACcEHI

SECTION 2. Objectives and Scope. — The SRS aims to:

• Expand the delivery of alternative learning systems among the impoverished sectors of the population and give their graduates access to the formal school system;

• Provide disadvantaged sectors of the population access to the formal school system through distance learning technologies and alternative learning systems;

• Offer entrepreneurship, livelihood and skills development programs through other government agencies.

Thus, SRS shall have three (3) components, namely:

1. Strong Republic Alternative Learning Systems

2. Strong Republic Basic Education Curriculum

3. Strong Republic Technical/Vocational Skills Training

SECTION 3. Priority Areas. — The SRS will prioritize a group of remote and impoverished barangays in conflict areas.

SECTION 4. DepED SRS System. — For the DepEd, the SRS Program will take a two-track approach. The first track, following the projects of the Bureau of Non-Formal Education, will deliver the basic literacy and Non-Formal Education A&E system for the participants who have not had access to any formal schooling or those who have dropped out. The second track will provide assistance to the established formal school system with focus on the five (5) learning areas known as MAKABAYAN, a learning area intended to equip target learners with core life skills. The system will use appropriate distance learning information technology package as the major delivery mode.

SECTION 5. Other Implementing Agencies

The Department of Education shall be the lead implementing agency and shall ensure inclusion of the Strong Republic School in the DepEd's priority regular programs. The SRS will also draw support from agencies which can make use of the technical facilities provided the SRS for their own program when classes are not in session.

1. Department of Agriculture

2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

3. Department of Interior and Local Government

4. Department of Health

5. Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines HIACEa

6. Department of Public Works and Highways

7. Department of Social Welfare and Development

8. Department of Trade and Industry

9. National Anti-Poverty Commission

10. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

11. Office of Muslim Affairs

12. Philippine Information Agency

13. Department of Science and Technology

14. Technology and Livelihood Resource Center

15. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

The Eskwela ng Bayan (ENB) will be seconded to the DepEd and tasked to provide technical support for the SRS Program.

The Office of the Secretary for the President's Priority Programs and Official Development Assistance Projects (PPPODAP) shall consolidate recommendations on the further enhancement of the SRS and facilitate coordination among implementing agencies.

The SRS Program may call on the participation of other government agencies and the different leagues of Local Governments and Local Officials as necessary to attain its objectives.

SECTION 6. Initial Funding for SRS. — A start-up fund of PhP 15 Million shall be provided by DepEd for the initial operations of the SRS Program. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be included in the budget proposal for the DepEd.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DepEd shall lead the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for this Executive Order, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary for the President's Priority Programs and Official Development Assistance (ODA) Projects (PPPODAP). Such IRR shall be issued within thirty (30) days from effectivity of this order.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. ITSacC

DONE in the City of Manila, this 29th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.