FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ILB.No.___g grag,

INTRODUCED BY

HE HONORABLE ANGELO PALMONES.

AN ACT ALLOWING GRADUATES IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS,

TISTICS AND ENGINEERNG COURSES TO TEACH SCIENCE AND

MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS AND.
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NO’

Pre-college science and mathematics education has an important relationship to the future
supply of scientific and technological personnel and to the general scientific literacy of
the country as a whole. The rapid advances in technology in all fields, likewise mean that
even those students who do not purs ssional occupations in technical fields will
“ulso require a solid foundation in science and mathematics in order to be productive and
capable members of the our society. At present, Teacher Education Institutions (TEI’s)
are not producing enough supply of future teachers with specialization in science and
mathematics.

While it is true that there are close to seven hundred colleges and universities which are
officially recognized by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to offer teacher
education programs as shown by those who take the Licensure Examination for Teachers
(LET), those who specialized through the 4-year Bachelor of Elementary or Secondary
Lducation (BSEE/BSE) are not producing enough to meet the demand for majors in these
subjects. This is compounded by the migration of teachers of these subjects to better
paying jobs abroad. The consequence of this poor grounding of students in mathematics
is clearly shown by the result of 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS) where 10 countries around the world participated. The Philippines
obtained the lowest overall rating with Russia obtaining the highest rating. On the other
hand, of the students who participated from the Philippines, those coming from the
Philippines Science High School (PSHIS) obtained a rating that is twice higher that the
overall rating of the country and would have placed them 4" in overall rating’. This only
shows that Filipinos have innate intelligence in science and math that only need to be
drawn out with the proper instructions and educational environment such as well
prepared teachers, good curricula and instructional fi

ties.

* Data and information came from the Office of the Director, Science Education Institute of the Department
of Science and Technology


‘Yo this end, the critical need to build up a workforce with strong Mathematics and
Science skills and competencies compels us to introduce this legislation by tapping
graduates in science, mathematics, statistics and engineering courses to teach science and
mathematics, especially in the public schools as an alternative and immediate solution.
This approach will certainly improve and strengthen the delivery of science and
mathematics educations at all levels and keep the country competitive in the global arena.

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ANGELO B. PALMONES
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{NTH CONGRE!

OF TH
HOUSE OF RE

LIPPINE:

AN ACT ALLOWING GE CR, MATHEMATICS,
STATISTICS AND ENGIN! TO TEACH SCIENCE AND
IN THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS AND

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Repr
in Congress Assembled

entatives of the Philippines

SECTON 1. Title. This Act shall be known as Act Allowing
Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Courses to Teach Sei
at the Elementary and Secondary Levels of 2010.

aduates in Science,
nee and Mathematies

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The 1987 Constitution provides that Science and
lechnology (S&T) are essential for national development and pro As such, itis the
policy of the State to give priority to research and development, invention, innovation
and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and servi
needed to make the country at par with the rest of the world in these fields. Corollary to
this the State must provide quality education stating from the elementary to the
secondary levels by employing well qualified teachers nee and mathematics,

SECTION 3. Objectives. In pursuance of the forego
following objectives:

policy, the State shall pursue the

(a) Adopt a strategy to assure that public clementary and high schools have
competent and highly-trained teachers in science and mathematics
(b) Develop criteria for the assessment, identification and recruitment of graduates of

science, mathematics, statistics and engineering to be deployed in public
elementary and secondary schools where their services in teaching science and
mathematics are needed; and

Advisory Committee; Na

(©) To create
Scholarship and Trainin
mentioned objectives

nal Screening Committee; and
Committee essential to the attainment of the above



SECTION 4. Creation of an Advisory
and Scholarship and Training Committee. To ensure the efficient implementation,
supervision and management of the Marshall Plan, an Advisory Committee; National
Screening Committee; and Scholarship and Training Committee are hereby created as
follows:

nimitice; National Screening Committee;

A) Advisory Committee. The

hereby created an Advisory Committee
composed of the Secretary of the Department of Education (Deplid), as Chair,
Department of Sei nd Technology, (DOST), as co-chair, and the Heads
or Directors of the following departments or agencies or their chosen
representatives as members: Science Education Institute (SELDOST), Bureau
of Elementary Education (BEE-DepEd), Bureau of Secondary Education,
Department of Education (BSE-DepEd), and the Commission on Higher
Pducation (CHED).

nce

The Advisory Committee shall act in
the

Ivisory capacity and is tasked to ensure
{fective implementation and coordination of the provisions of this Act.

nmittee.

B) National Screening Co

(1). The National Screening Committee is likewise hereby created, composed
of the following members:

Department of Falueation (DepFd), Chair

Department of Science and Technology, (DOST), co-Ch:

Bureau of Flementary Education, Department of Education (BEF

DepEd), member

(@) Bureau of Secondary Education, Dep:
(BSE-Deplid), member

(e) Conmission on Higher Education (CHED), member.

(1) President of the Association of Regional Directors, DepEd,

member

tment of Education

ent organizations to be identified and named
by the Advisory Committee

The Committce shall develop a set of criteria and guidelines for the
assessment, identification, recruitment and placement of graduates of science,
mathematics and engin to be deployed to public secondary schools
where their services in teaching science and mathematics are needed in
consultation with the Advisory Committee.

©) Scholarship and 1)

ining Committee.

The §

cholarship and Training Comniitice is hereby created which shall be

chaired by the Department of Science and Technology (OST) and shall be

compos

d of the following members:


(a) Department of Education (DepEd), co-

(b) Sc -¢ Education Institute (SED. member:

(c) Bureau of Elementary Education, Department of Education (BEE=
DepEd), member

(d) Bureau of Secondary Education, Department of Education
(BSE-DepFd), member

(e) Commission on Higher Education (CHED), member

Fhe Schokuship and ‘Training Committee shall develop Policies and
Guidelines for the implementation of the Scholarship support which includes
the 18 units of Professional Education to quality non-education graduates for
the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). The scholarship‘training
program herein provided shall be directly implemented, coordinated and
monitored by the Science Education Institute (SED in consultation with the
Advisory Committee.

SECTION . In onder to et
statistics and engineering to teach ele
subjects under this Act they: shall

Incentiv: es of

courage gradu; ience, mathematics,
entry or secondary level science and mathematics
Jy be eligible to teach on a probationary or
temporary basis, and exempting them from taking the Licensure Examinations. for
Veachers (LET) prior to initial hiring but must be able to pass it within two (2) years afier
they have been hired. While teaching in the designated public high school, he’she shall be
allowed to take the 18 units professional education during summer or during classes as
scholar in order to qualify himsher to take the Licensure Examination for Teacher (LET).

re:

nls,

the Depart jence and Technol
for the hired teachers to take up profession:

(DOST) shall provide the scholarship ¢:
education subjects.

SECTION 6. §
services essential to ¢

iat, The Science Fducation Institute shall provide the secretariat
arry ot the provisions of this Act

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Re; 8. The Advisory Committee i
hereby authorized to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations within 90 days
from the approval of this Act.

SECTION 8. Life of the Act. This law shall be valid and effective for a period of ten
(10) years. An evaluation of the increase in the supply of manpower for teaching seience
and mathematics in elementary and secondary education levels and impact onthe
performance of students in science and mathematics. shall be commissioned to an
independent evaluation group by the Advisory Committee three months before the end of
the tenth year,

SECTION 9. Appropriation. The fund necessary to carry out the provisions of th
shall be included in the annual appropriation of the Department of Science and
Technology.



SECTION 10. Separability Clause. If any” provisi
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions hereof w
have foree and effect

m of this Act is declared
ich are not affected shall continue to

USECTION 11. Repealing Clause. All lis, decrees, orders, rules or regulations thereof,
‘inconsistent with this Act are hereby moditied or repealed accordingly.

ION 12. Effee ly. This Act shall take effect on the day following its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general cirenlation,

Approved