Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997

February 12, 1998

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8496

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall give priority to Research and Development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to Science and Technology education, training and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country's productive systems and national life. To achieve these, the State hereby establishes a PSHS System that will assume a leadership role in secondary level science and technology education.

SECTION 3. Objectives. — In implementing the foregoing policy, the State shall pursue the following objectives:

(a) Integrate the existing PSHS at Diliman, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas and Mindanao into one system of governance and management;

(b) Ensure uniformity in quality standards and systematize operations of schools under the PSHS System; and

(c) Rationalize the establishment of science high schools as defined in this Act.

TITLE I

Definition of Terms, Structure, Management and Governance

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. —

(a) Philippine Science High Schools (PSHS) — are secondary schools offering scholarships to deserving students who shall be admitted and trained under a curriculum specially designed to prepare them for careers in S & T.

(b) Term — refers to the "term of office," with a duration of six (6) years in one term.

SECTION 5. Scope. — The Philippine Science High School System shall be composed of the existing PSHS campuses at Diliman, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas and Mindanao, and future campuses which shall be established under this law.

SECTION 6. Overall Coordinating Authority. — The PSHS System shall be under the administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

SECTION 7. Board of Trustees. — There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the secretary of the DOST as ex-officio Chairman, the secretary of DECS as ex-officio Vice Chairman, and the following members: The President of the U.P., the Executive Director of PSHS, the Director of the Science Education Institute (SEI) and the President from the PSHS National Alumni Association as ex-officio members; and one (1) representative each from the private sector representing higher education, education for the gifted, industry, agriculture, and new and emerging technologies. The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the Chairman subject to the confirmation of the Board of Trustees. For the first set of appointments, three (3) of them shall serve for four (4) years, while the other two (2) for two (2) years, thereafter, succeeding appointments shall have a fixed term of four (4) years.

The Board shall exercise the following powers:

(a) Formulate policies and guidelines for the administration and operation of the PSHS System;

(b) Formulate policies on the appointment, promotion, retention, removal, renewal, rewards and incentives for administrators, faculty and staff;

(c) Approve the curricula submitted by the Executive Director;

(d) Approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;

(e) Approve the grant of scholarship, stipend and such allowances for students;

(f) Approve the graduation of successful candidates from the various PSHS campuses;

(g) Formulate policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty and staff;

(h) Approve the PSHS System budget and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums as may be provided by law for the support of the System;

(i) Receive grants whether cash, land, buildings and improvements thereof; donations, contributions, bequest, gifts, and to formulate policies for the administration thereof;

(j) Develop policies for the expansion of enrollment in the campuses under the PSHS System;

(k) Set policies and criteria to rationalize the establishment of science high schools under the System, for its evaluation and approval thereof; and

(l) Prepare strategic plans to enhance the capability of the System in developing human resources with focus on youth with special talents in science and mathematics.

SECTION 8. Executive Director (ED). — There shall be an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board and shall be conferred the rank equivalent to a bureau director with a fixed term of six (6) years, renewable for another term. The ED shall coordinate the implementation of policies and guidelines set by the Board of Trustees. As a member of the Board of Trustees, the ED shall articulate to the Board the mutual concern of all the campuses.

The ED shall perform the following roles and functions:

8.1 Coordinate curriculum planning activities for the PSHS System;

8.2 Oversee research projects on the gifted in science and math;

8.3 Coordinate publication of research outputs of the teachers, administrators and students from the PSHS System;

8.4 Provide legal and technical support to the members of the System;

8.5 Coordinate exchange programs with other educational institutions both local and foreign;

8.6 Develop and coordinate linkages and networking among the campuses of the PSHS System with other institutions;

8.7 Coordinate the implementation of the program for the identification and selection of scholars for the PSHS System;

8.8 Provide for the secretariat services of the Board of Trustees;

8.9 Perform other functions as may be deemed necessary.

For the efficient and effective implementation of the foregoing functions, the Executive Director shall be provided with a staff.

SECTION 9. Campus Director (CD). — The school shall be headed by a CD who shall be appointed by the Board, upon recommendation of the Executive Director on the basis of a search process. He/she shall have a fixed term of six (6) years, renewable for another term at the option of the Board. The CD shall not be removed from office except for cause.

The CD shall be the administrative and academic head of his/her campus and will be responsible for its smooth operations. The CD may constitute a consultative body which may act as a citizen's arm to interpret the educational needs of the service area of the campus.

The incumbent CD may serve the unexpired term as defined in this Act.

SECTION 10. Executive Committee. — There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the Executive Director and the Campus Directors in the PSHS System as members. The committee shall be collegial in character.

TITLE II

Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 11. Funding. — The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Philippine Science High School campuses. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for the continued operation of the Philippine Science High School System shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The amount of Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to be included for the initial year of operation of the System, in addition to the budget of the existing individual campuses.

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board of Trustees shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect on the day following its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: February 12, 1998

Published in Malaya and Manila Times on February 18, 1998.