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STANDARD TODAY (September 17, 2014)

[ IRR REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10612, August 04, 2014 ]

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10612, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "FAST-TRACKED S&T SCHOLARSHIP ACT OF 2013"



Pursuant to Section 17 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10612, entitled "An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Program and Strengthening the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools, " otherwise known as the "Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013, " the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd) hereby jointly issue the following rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the aforesaid law.

RULE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS


SECTION 1. Title. These rules and regulations shall be known and cited as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10612, otherwise known as the "Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013. "

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy, Science, technology and engineering are essential for national development and progress. The State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation and their utilization. Priority shall also be given to science and technology education, training and services.

In line with the above, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the development of the country's science and technology manpower in line with economic development and to provide the capability required in the areas of research, development, innovation as well as their utilization. As such, it is important that the State provide for quality science and mathematics teachers at the secondary level, which would encourage more students to pursue careers in science and technology.

Therefore, the State shall provide for scholarship to deserving science students and other specially-gifted citizens to enable them to pursue higher education or training in the areas of science, technology and engineering, and to provide incentives for them to become secondary school teachers especially in their home regions.

SECTION 3. General Objectives. To carry out the measure, this implementing rules and regulations (TRR) shall strengthen the country's science and technology education by fast tracking the graduates in the sciences, mathematics and engineering who shall teach science and mathematics subjects in secondary schools throughout the country. Towards this end, scholarships shall be provided to finance the education of talented and deserving students in their third year of college, and pursuing a degree or training in the areas of science and technology, and to provide incentives for them to pursue a career in teaching in high schools especially i their home regions.

RULE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS


SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this 1RR, the following terms shall mean or be understood as:

(a) Act refers to RANo. 10612, entitled "An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Program and Strengthening the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools and for Other Purposes," otherwise known as the "Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013. "

(b) Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Compliant Programs refers to the specific programs meeting the minimum requirements prescribed by relevant CHED policies, standards, and guidelines.

(c) General Weighted Average (GWA) refers to a representation (often numerical) of the overall scholastic standing of student used for evaluation. GWA is based on the grades in all academic subjects taken during the first and second year in college in the S&T priority course the applicant is enrolled in.

(d) Science and Technology (S&T) Priority Courses refer to four (4) or five (5) year courses in the basic sciences, mathematics, engineering and other applied sciences identified as priority fields of study by the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI).

(e) Republic Act No. 10533 refers to the law, entitled "An Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System by Strengthening Its Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes," otherwise known as the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. "

(f) Regular Third Year College Student refers to a student who has completed his/her first and second years in college without any failing grade in all academic subjects and is currently enrolled in full load in the third year level as prescribed in his/her curricular program.

RULE III
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA


SECTION 1. Scholarship Program. This IRR builds on the current Science and Technology Scholarships offered by the DOST, through SEI, as provided for in RA No. 7687, otherwise known as the "Science and Technology Scholarship Act of1994." It envisions a fast tracking of more science, technology, and engineering graduates by offering scholarships to deserving students in these courses in their third year of undergraduate study, based on their competitiveness and merit. It also offers additional incentives to attract the graduates of this scholarship program into teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses in a public or private high school.

SECTION 2. Eligibility. The following are qualifications for the scholarship with teaching incentive. Applicants must:

(a) be a Filipino citizen;
(b) be a regular third year college student at the time of award,
(c) be currently enrolled in any of the state universities or colleges, or in private universities or colleges, especially in CHED-compliant programs, under any of the identified priority S&T courses;
(d) have a GWA of at least eighty-three percent (83%) or its equivalent in their first and second years in college; and
(e) pass the Junior Level Science Scholarship Examination administered by the DOST-SEI.

As used in this section, the term "Junior Level Science Scholarship" refers to two (2) or three (3) year science scholarship grants awarded to regular third year college students enrolled in priority S&T courses at identified institutions.

SECTION 3. Award Amounts. Recipients are entitled to an annual award for full-time study equal to the complete financial assistance package offered under RA No. 7687, for students attending an approved undergraduate program at quality schools such as CHED-compliant programs and DOST Network Institutions, public or private, with minimum slots awarded in private schools to offset differences in tuition costs.

In furtherance of this section, the DOST-SEI shall provide the necessary guidelines to determine the minimum number of slots awarded to students enrolled in private schools.

SECTION 4. Duration. Recipients shall be entitled to an award for the last two (2) years of undergraduate study, or the last three (3) years for those enrolled in five (5)-year courses such as engineering, while matriculating in an approved program.

SECTION 5. Approved Courses and Priority Programs. Recipients shall pursue degrees in science, technology and engineering, as identified and approved by the DOST as priority S&T courses. Applicants who are currently enrolled under such courses under the CHED-compliant programs shall be given priority.

SECTION 6. Terms and Conditions. Applicants for the scholarship must execute a service contract in which they:

(a) agree to teach in the secondary level of basic education in a public or private high school as their return of service (ROS);
(b) agree to any of the approved ROS conditions; and
(c) agree to repay the amounts disbursed, plus interest applicable, in case of failure to comply with the terms of the service contract.

The service contract shall stipulate, among others, the grounds for breach of contract and the corresponding penalties if applicable, including the definite period of payment.

SECTION 7. Distribution of Scholarship Slots. The DOST shall allocate scholarship slots to areas based on the recommendation of the DepEd. For this purpose, the DepEd shall provide and continuously update an information system which shall include the specific regions where there are dearth of Science, Technology and Mathematics teachers in the secondary level.

RULE IV
RETURN OF SERVICE CONDITIONS AND
INCENTIVES


SECTION 1. Return of Service Conditions. Award recipients must teach full-time high school subject(s) in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, or Information Technology or Agricultural, Aquaculture or Fisheries Technology, both in the university and technical-vocational tracks in the secondary education curriculum, for a minimum of two (2) years, in a public or private high school.

Under this section, the term "university rack" refers to the academic track offered under the K to 12 Basic Education Program Curriculum.

SECTION 2. Incentives Schemes. The following are incentives granted to qualified graduates who shall be hired to teach at a public or private high school for a minimum of two (2) years. They shall be entitled to:

(a) starting salary grade equivalent to that of a Special Science Teacher I in the Philippine Science High School System. The DepEd, in consultation with the DOST and the Department of Budget and Management, shall issue additional  guidelines for the implementation of this sub-section;
(b) priority for job placement in any high school, public or private, of his/her choice within the country, with first priority in his/her home province;
(c) one-time relocation allowance should he/she be assigned in a place other than the permanent residence;
(d) scholarships in identified teacher education institutions for Science Education courses; and
(e) teaching opportunity for those who have not yet acquired the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) eligibility. Qualified graduates who have not yet passed the LET shall be allowed to teach provided that they pass the LET within five (5) years from date of hiring.

Recipients of the four (4) or five (5)-year S&T Undergraduate Scholarships of DOST-SEI under RA No. 7687 may also opt to teach full-time any of the courses identified in Section 1, Rule IV of this IRR, for a minimum of two (2) years in a public or private high school in their home region.

SECTION 3. Hiring of Award Recipients. Tn the hiring of recipients of the Act and RA No. 7687, the DepEd and private educational institutions shall be guided by the teacher hiring requirements set by the IRR of RA No. 10533.

SECTION 4. Teacher Training. The Philippine Normal University (PNU), being the National Center for Teacher Education per RA No. 9647, otherwise known as the "Philippine Normal University Modernization Act of 2009, " and its network of universities in teacher education like the National Network of Normal Schools, as well as CHED-compliant programs in teacher education and centers for teacher training recognized by the CHED and the DepEd, are hereby tasked to provide training for hired teachers under this program. For this purpose, one thousand (1,000) scholarships are made available every year to these hired teachers to be sourced from the DepEd, to be coordinated with their implementation of the teacher education and training provision of RA No. 10533.

The PNU, together with other designated teacher education institutions, in collaboration with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), shall design and implement a teacher training program that envisions assisting hired teachers under this program to develop and demonstrate pedagogically sound and technically effective learning designs and methodologies appropriate for secondary level students; Provided, That the teacher training program shall be designed towards the eventual qualification of the hired teacher to take the LET.

RULE V
OPTIONS FOR OTHER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATICS GRADUATES


SECTION 1. Eligibility of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduates. Other STEM graduates and professionals, who are not recipients of the scholarship program provided for in this Act, may also apply to teach science, mathematics or technology subjects in a public or private high school. Applicants must:

(a) be a Filipino citizen;
(b) have graduated with a STEM degree, with a GWA of eighty-three percent (83%) or better from a reputable university;
(c) be at least forty (40) years of age at the time of application;
(d) not have a service obligation under other program in conflict with DOST-SEI obligations; and
(e) comply with other requirements as may be required by the PRC under RA No. 7836 and the provisions of RA No. 10533 and its IRR, such as the requirement on the Continuing Professional Education/Continuing Professional Development for qualified science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals.

Provided, That qualified graduates and professionals shall also be entitled to teacher training programs in any teacher education institution as specified in Section 4, Rule IV of this IRR, to prepare them into full-time teaching in a public or private high school in their home region.

SECTION 2. Hiring of Teachers Under this Rule. In the hiring of teachers under this Rule, the DepEd and private educational institutions shall be guided by the teacher hiring requirements set by the provisions of RA No. 10533,

RULE VI
IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES


SECTION 1. Science Education Institute. The DOST-SEI shall be the main implementing agency of the provisions in this IRR. The SEI shall be responsible for evaluation, award-giving and monitoring of scholarship grants and awardees. The Institute is also tasked to coordinate with other relevant agencies in the fulfillment of the goals of the Act and this IRR.

The DOST-SEI shall formulate and prescribe timely and relevant guidelines on the monitoring and evaluation of the academic performance of scholars in the determination of the rates of financial assistance and compliance to obligation of graduates.

SECTION 2. Department of Education. The DepEd is tasked to ensure job placement and hiring of qualified graduates under this program as secondary school teachers in science, mathematics and related technology courses, and to ensure that these teachers are hired at Special Science Teacher salary grade levels, as specified in the Act, consistent with the teacher hiring provisions of RA No. 10533 and its IRR. The Department is also tasked with the evaluation and monitoring of hired teachers under this program.

RULEVII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION

SECTION 1. Public Information, Education and Advocacy. The DOST and the DepEd shall, in coordination with CHED, local government units and non-government organizations, or people's organizations, conduct information, education and advocacy activities on the provisions of the Act and this IRR through the media and other lawful means available.

Consistent with Section 7 of Rule III of this IRR, public information, education and advocacy activities shall focus on areas where there is a dearth of shortage of Science, Technology and Mathematics teachers in the secondary level.

Public information, education and advocacy activities shall commence within sixty (60) days from the issuance of this IRR and every year thereafter. The conduct of public information, education and advocacy activities shall emphasize on the additional incentives to attract the graduates of this scholarship program into teaching science, mathematics and technology subject areas in a public or private high school.

SECTION 2. Review and Monitoring. Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act, the DepEd, the CHED and the DOST shall report to the President and Congress after the first three (3) years, and annually thereafter, on the implementation of the provisions of the Act and this IRR to submit recommendations for its improvement.

The Departments are also tasked to monitor the hiring in high schools of scholars under this program, and to undertake such tracer studies and include these in the annual reports.

The DepEd, the CHED and the DOST shall conduct regular bi-annual meetings and special meetings, when necessary. The agenda of such meetings shall include, among others, the improvement of policies/programs/projects/activities and problems arising from the implementation of the law including, but not limited to the distribution of scholarship slots, hiring of award recipients and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates and the mechanisms for complying with the return of service conditions.

SECTION 3. Implementing Details. The DOST and the DepEd may issue such policies and guidelines as may be necessary to further implement this IRR.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of Chapter II of the Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the SET under the DOST. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to augment the Science and Technology Scholarship Fund as provided for in RA No. 7687 shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

In addition, the SEI is authorized to accept grants, contributions and/or donations from domestic and foreign sources for scholarship grants.

SECTION 5. Amendment. Amendments to this IRR shall be jointly promulgated by the Secretaries of DOST and DepEd.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. Should any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this IRR are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. This IRR shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

This IRR shall be registered with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Done this 4th day of August 2014.


(Sgd.) MARIO G. MONTEJO
Secretary
Department of Science and Technology
(Sgd.) ARMIN A. LUISTRO FSC
Secretary
Department of Education
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