FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

1657

House Bill No.,

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 all 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 gradelyear levels in the elementary,
secondary and tertiary levels.

Immediate approval of this bill is therefore earnestly sought.

RUFUS B. Ooo.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

1657

House Bill No.,

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 2010”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. \t 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.

(©) “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.

“Testing” refers to systematic procedures for measuring samples of

behavior under controlled conditions.

(d)


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

(f) “Alternative Learning 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

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

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

9) Arepresentative of public higher education institutions;

h) A representative of private higher education institutions;

i) An eminent 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 full-time.

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

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;

To develop achievement tests which will be administered at the end of

Grade IV, Grade VI and fourth year high school and the aptitude tests to

be administered not later than second year high school;

To review, improve and oversee the implementation of all national

testing programs;

To conduct continuing research studies for refinement, standardization

and the improvement of existing instruments and evaluation programs;

To disseminate to concerned 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, government 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;

k) To call upon any department, bureau, office or government corporation,
local government units and other concerned agencies for assistance;

|) 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.

b}

°)

d)

£

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
pattern 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 Clause. 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 shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette and in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,