SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez a
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3279

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The right of all citizens to quality education at all school levels is upheld by the
Constitution. It is therefore, the mandate of the State to protect this right and to provide
the resources to implement this policy for the benefit of alll citizens.

This bill seeks to institute the appropriate mechanisms for ensuring quality
education by the creation of an agency - the National Educational Assessment and
Evaluation Authority (NEAEA)- that will monitor the educational processes and outputs
and to oversee how effectively these are implemented. The NEAEA will be responsible for
coordinating current testing efforts, particularly those that have been started by the
Department of Education, particularly the National Education Testing and Research
Center (NETRC) in its administration of the now-defunct National College Entrance
Examination and the National Secondary Achievement Tests as incorporated in the
Secondary Education Development Program,

For purposes of screening, selection and promotion, school tests students at
different stages in the educational ladder. It is however of utmost importance that the
quality, validity and reliability of such tests be determined and local norms for foreign ones
be developed

The administration of achievement tests at the highest elementary grade and in
second year high school, the latter for career guidance and counseling purposes, as a
valuable tool for assessment, is gaining popularity throughout the country. In addition, it is
necessary to assess not only the students, but also the teachers and the school programs
as well to gauge the quality of education.

The NEAEA, as proposed in this bill, will improve the delivery of quality education
and strengthen the linkage between the educational system and the country’s vital
economic and industrial sectors.

The enactment of this bill will rationalize the system for monitoring, testing and
evaluation of the outputs of different grade/year levels in the elementary, secondary and
tertiary levels.

Immediate approval of this bill is therefore earnestly sought

RUFUS B. ROI SUEZ

MAXIMO B/ MA coca JR.



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 32.79

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING AND RESEARCH CENTER
(NETRC) INTO A NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
AUTHORITY (NEAEA), DEFINING ITS STRUCTURE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “National Education
Assessment and Evaluation Authority Act of 2013”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby be declared the policy of the State to
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate
measures to make such education accessible to all

Thus, to attain quality education, mechanisms shall be established to monitor
educational processes and outcomes through appropriate assessment and evaluation
systems. Assessment and evaluation, in view of their importance, shall be considered vital
to the continuing pursuit of quality education

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

(a) “Authority’ refers to the National Education Assessment and Evaluation
Authority.

(b) “Assessment” covers the broader scope than the restrictive connotations of
the term measurement. The process of assessment involves the appraisal of
the level or magnitude of some attribute.

(c) “Evaluation” is the process of gathering data, which can be used as basis for
forming judgments, and to continuous decision making about programs,
processes and products.

(4) “Testing” refers to systematic procedures for measuring samples of behavior
under controlled conditions.

(e) “Equivalency, Certification and Accreditation” shall mean methods of
assessing and evaluating an individual's level of proficiency in a specified
area.

(f) “Alternative Leaming System” shall mean the non-school-based methods of
acquiring knowledge and skills.

SEC. 4. National Education Assessment and Evaluation Authority. To implement
the policy declared in this Act, the National Education Testing and Research Center
(NETRC) of the Department of Education, is hereby converted into a National Education


Assessment and Evaluation Authority (NEAEA), hereinafter referred to as the Authority,
which shall be attached for administrative purposes to the Office of the President until
such a time that an appropriate body is created by law.

SEC. 5. Composition of the Authority. The National Education Assessment and
Evaluation Authority shall be composed of the Authority Board and its technical and
administrative staff and personnel.

SEC. 6, Composition of the NEAEA Board, The Authority shall be governed by a
Board, which shall be composed of the following members:

Ex-Officio Members
a) The Secretary of the Department of Education;
b) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment;
c) The Secretary of Department of Science and Technology;
d) The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education;

Regular Members

) A representative of public technical education and skills
development institutions;

f) A representative of private technical education and skills
development institutions;

g) __Arepresentative of public higher education institutions;

h) —_ Arepresentative of private higher education institutions;

i) Aneminent educator in the filed of Measurement and Evaluation;

j) _ Aneminent educator in the field of Educational Research; and

k) An eminent educator in the field of Psychology, Psychometrics, or
Career Counseling.

The regular members shall be persons known for their integrity and probity. The
President, shall, upon the recommendation of their respective organizations and/or peers,
appoint the regular members for a term of three (3) years without prejudice to one (1)
reappointment.

‘Among the first regular members, three (3) shall hold office for a term of three (3)
years each; the next two (2) for a term of two (2) years each; and the last two (2) for a
term of one (1) year each

The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members from among the
regular members of a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to one re-election. He shall
serve fulltime.

The ex-officio member of the Board shall hold office during their incumbeney.

SEC. 7. Powers and functions of the Board. The Board shall have the following
powers and functions.

a) To formulate and implement national policies and standards on testing and
evaluation, develop and administer various tests and other assessment
instruments, utilize test and evaluation results to improve education;

b) To develop achievement tests which will be administered at the end of Grade
IV, Grade VI and fourth year high school and the apfitude tests to be
administered not later than second year high school;


¢) To review. improve and oversee the implementation of all national testing
programs;

d) To conduct continuing research studies for refinement, standardization and the
improvement of existing instruments and evaluation programs;

To disseminate to concemed public the results of tests, research and

evaluation;

f) To devise equivalency measures between/among different tests;

g) To accredit testing agencies;

h) To coordinate and collaborate with different institutions, govemment and
private, and other related agencies on matters pertinent to testing and
evaluation;

i) To provide consultative assistance to related agencies on testing and
evaluation;

j) To organize and constitute working committees or groups to carry out its
functions;

To call upon any department, bureau, office or government corporation, local

government units and other concemed agencies for assistance:

1) To provide training and technical assistance to staff and field personnel to
safeguard the integrity of testing and evaluation activities and results;

m) To collect fees, receive and maintain funds, grants, donations and bequests for
the promotion of its aims and purposes: and

n) To exercise other functions which are necessary for the effective
implementation and to carry out the purposes of this Act.

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SEC. 8. Executive Officer, Term of Office; Rank and Emoluments. The Authority
shall be headed by an executive officer, who shall be chosen by the Board and shall hold
the rank and emoluments of Undersecretary. His/her term of office shall be for a period of
five (5) years without prejudice to one reappointment.

The executive officer shall execute and implement the policies, programs and
resolutions of the Board.

SEC. 9. Transitory Provisions.

a) To provide continuity in the operations and services of the Authority, the
incumbent officials and employees of the present NETRC affected under this
Act shall continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities, in a
holdover capacity, and shall receive their corresponding salaries and benefits
until such time when the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the
Authority shall have been approved by the Board.

Those personnel whose positions are not included in the new staffing pattem
approved by the Board or who are not reappointed or who choose to be
separated as a result of the reorganization shall be entitled to whatever
compensation and benefits are due them under existing laws.

b

All assets such as test items in the item bank, equipment, books, including
Appropriation and other funds and liabilities of the NETRC shall be transferred
to the Authority.

¢) The transition period shall not exceed one year from the effectivity of this Act.


SEC. 10. Appropriations. The amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to initially implement the provisions of this Act
Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Ciause. Presidential Decree No. 146, and all executive orders,
presidential decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shalll take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette and in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,