Re: Abolishing the Special Committee on Scholarships

2007

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 402 DATED JANUARY 24, 2005 ENTITLED "ABOLISHING THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRANSFERRING ITS SCHOLARSHIP FUNCTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR BASIC EDUCATION, TO THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DEGREE COURSES, AND TO THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR NON-DEGREE COURSES

RULE I

General Provisions

SECTION 1.  Purpose and General Coverage. —

In order to promote simplicity, economy, and efficiency in the administration of scholarship training and grants sourced from Official Development Assistance (ODA), these Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are promulgated pursuant to Section 2 of Executive Order 402, entitled "Abolishing the Special Committee on Scholarships and Transferring its Scholarship Functions to the Department of Education for Basic Education, to the Commission on Higher Education for Degree Courses, and to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for Non-Degree Courses."

This shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the standardization of planning, programming and administration of foreign scholarships and training grants sourced from Official Development Assistance (ODA) classified as basic education, degree, and non-degree courses.

SECTION 2.  Definition of Terms. —

For the purpose of this IRR the following terms or words and phrases shall mean or be understood as follows:

a)  "Basic Education" refers to short-term non-degree teacher training courses for elementary and secondary programs. These are aimed at enhancing the teaching and professional competencies of teachers, educational managers and non-teaching personnel on academic learning areas, educational management and supervision, trends and issues in education and general updates on content and processes in subject disciplines, such as but not limited to Science, Mathematics, English teaching and such other related disciplines.

b)  "Degree Courses" refers to baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs, and related certificate/diploma courses.

c)  "Non-Degree Courses" refers to programs other than "basic education" and "degree courses." These are programs conducted by recognized training and educational institutions designed to supplement/fulfill specific competency requirements of employees.

d)  "Foreign Scholarship and Training Program (FSTP)" is a component of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) extended to the Philippines by foreign donor countries, the objective of which is to enhance the capabilities of institutions in accordance with national development thrusts and strategies.

e)  "Appropriate Authorities" refers to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the administration of FSTP in basic education, to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the administration of FSTP in degree courses, and to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the administration of FSTP in non-degree courses.

SECTION 3.  Functions of the Appropriate Authorities. —

a)  The DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall conduct their respective coordination and administration of FSTP under bilateral and multilateral agreements, various technical cooperation programs, including other special programs.

b)  In coordination with other cooperating government and non-government agencies, DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall formulate policies and procedures concerning scholarship availment, scholars' benefits and entitlements, return service obligations, application for extension and other related policies.

c)  DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall conduct their respective nomination and selection of the Philippine Government's official candidates for foreign funded scholarship and training grants.

d)  DepEd, CHED and TESDA in coordination with appropriate government authorities shall negotiate with donor countries and evaluate our foreign bilateral programs and disseminate these programs to the appropriate agency.

e)  DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall establish and maintain effective institutional linkages with local representatives of donor countries and institutions or organization on foreign scholarship matters. ITCcAD

SECTION 4.  Standardization of Process and Forms. —

To facilitate the system of administration of scholarship programs, the Handbook of General Procedures, Rules and Regulations in Planning, Programming, and Implementation of ODA-funded trainings and scholarships developed by the Special Committee on Scholarships (NEDA-SCS) shall be initially adopted and later modified as needed.

RULE II

Scholarship Planning and Programming

SECTION 5.  Sectoral Priorities of the Program. —

Scholarships and trainings shall be classified according to the sectoral priorities identified in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).

RULE III

Scholarship Processing and Validation

SECTION 6.  Establishment of Scholarship Coordinating Committee and Scholarship Screening Committees and Their Functions. —

A Scholarship Coordinating Committee and a Screening Committee for Luzon shall be established in the respective Central Offices as may be determined by each agency. For more effective access, regional screening committees shall be established in Visayas and Mindanao. The functions of the Scholarship Coordinating Committee are to:

a)  Coordination and administration of scholarship training and grants sourced from Official Development Assistance (ODA)

b)  Provide scholars continuing assistance from the time of selection to the time of return to the country, including assistance for the productive utilization of their newly-gained expertise

c)  Promulgate and implement the policies and guidelines governing scholarship training and grants sourced from Official Development Assistance (ODA)

SECTION 7.  Selection Process. —

a)  The DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall develop its own assessment and selection process based on agreed minimum criteria. However, there shall be a coordination mechanism among the three agencies.

b)  The DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall implement its own screening of nominees (from long-listing to final selection), preparation of scholar's documents and conduct of pre-departure briefing

RULE IV

Scholarship Monitoring and Evaluation

SECTION 8.  Monitoring of Scholars and Training Course Viability. —

a)  DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall maintain its own copy of the scholar's foreign travel order and duly accomplished scholarship training contract

b)  The three agencies shall evaluate the performance of the scholars based on reports submitted by the training institution. They shall likewise evaluate the post training reports of the scholars for purposes of assessing future program offers

c)  All scholars shall be required to submit a re-entry plan with measurable objectives, processes and outputs for approval of the head of agency or his representative.

SECTION 9.  Assessment/Evaluation of Country Programs. —

A national consultation meeting shall be conducted annually to assess the FSTP performance and to study areas for the continuous improvement of the FSTP implementation

SECTION 10.  Data Management and Information System. —

DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall each maintain a database covering updates on all files relative to the FSTP implementation. This shall include, but not limited to, courses offered and availed of, and the nominees' and scholars' records.

RULE V

Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 11.  Information Dissemination. —

The DepEd, TESDA, and CHED shall provide information on this IRR to concerned public through different modes of disseminating information.

SECTION 12.  Separability Clause. —

If any section or provisions of this IRR shall be declared unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect. ITaESD

SECTION 13.  Effectivity. —

These rules shall take effect immediately upon adoption and issuance.

Adopted and issued.

 

(SGD.) JESLI A. LAPUSSecretaryDepartment of Education

 

(SGD.) AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCODirector GeneralTechnical Education and

 

(SGD.) CARLITO S. PUNOChairman

Published in The Manila Times on February 28, 2007.