Republic of the Philippines q
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ff RECEIVED
Quezon City S src FEB LS

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6287

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
CREATING A NETWORK OF MEISTER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As part of his comprehensive education reform agenda, and to help bridge the country’s
skill gap and reduce youth unemployment, this bill will create specialized senior high schools
that will teach highly-technical skills compatible with the manufacturing and other high-value
industries

This proposed measure is modelled after technical-vocational (tech-voc) schools in
Korea that produce “meisters” or master-craftsmen. In Korea, the effect that Meister Schools
had were dramatic. 85% placement of first batch/generation or those who signed employment
contracts. In the first two years of implementation, the employment rate of vocational high
school graduates increased from 19% in 2010 to 42% in 2012

Cultural barriers are one of the reasons why technical-vocational education is not as
attractive in the Philippines. One of the objectives of this proposed measure is to elevate the
status of technical and vocational education in the country, and to have a large base of highly-
skilled, highly-hireable tech-voc graduates (without college degrees) rather than have so many
college degree graduates that are functionally useless as far as skills gap is concerned. This bill
also provides that Meister Schools will assist in developing technical vocational programs in
the country.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

- 6287
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
CREATING A NETWORK OF MEISTER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Meister Schools Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all. The right to education shall be promoted with the end goal of producing
graduates who are prepared to become civically-active, economically productive members of
society.

The State shall also ensure that education aligns with the goals of national development
and industrialization. Towards this end, the State shall ensure access to affordable and
competitive industrial schools for the training of highly technically-skilled graduates who are
able to meet the country’s need for higher-order industrial skills, and who are able to find
decent employment in high-value industries even without a college degree.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Meister Schools, ~ There shall be established in every region
at least one senior high school to be known as a “Meister School,” which shall be funded in the
manner of National High Schools. Meister schools shall be senior high schools where courses
for highly-specialized, higher-order industrial and technical skills shall be taught, with the
objective of producing graduates who can find employment in highly-technical, high-skill
functions in the manufacturing sector and other high-value industries, such as energy,
machinery, mechatronics, and telecommunications.

SEC. 4. Autonomy of Meister Schools over curriculum. — Meister schools shall exercise
autonomy over curriculum, facility and development of industry linkages


SEC. 5. Functions and Appointment of Headmaster. ~ Each Meister School shall be
headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees subject to
the approval of, and his or her compensation shall be fixed by, the Board of Trustees. He or
she shall not be removed therefrom except for cause. His or her functions, powers and duties,
in addition to those specifically provided for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the
office of the principal of a public high school.

SEC. 6. The Board of Trustees. Each Meister School shall be governed by a Board of
‘Trustees. The exercise of corporate powers of each Meister School is hereby vested exclusively
in the Board of Trustees and in the Director of the Meister School insofar as authorized by said
Board. The Board shall be composed of the Regional Director of the Department of Education,
as chair of the Board, the Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as
co-chair of the Board, and the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), the heads of economic zones operating in the region, the head of the regional chapter
of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the head of the Parent-Teacher’
Association of the school, and a representative of scientific and technological associations as
members.

The member of the Board representing scientific and technological associations or
societies shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the
Chair of the Board.

SEC. 7. Functions of the Board. ~ The Board of Trustees shall exercise for the Meister
School all the powers and prerogatives of a board of directors of a private corporation. It shall
also have the following powers and duties

To affix the site of the Meister School;

b) To receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law such sums as may be
provided by law for the support of the Meister School;

c

To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the Director in
connection with the employment of professors, instructors, lecturers, and other
employees of the school, subject to the provisions of Section Ten of this Act; to fix
their compensation and other conditions of employment; and to remove them for
cause after an investigation and hearing shall have been had;

d)

To approve the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the
Executive Council as hereinafter provided;

e) To provide fellowship for faculty members and approve the grant of scholarship,
stipends and such other allowances to deserving students;

f) To approve the issuance of certificates of diplomas to successful candidates for
graduation;

To provide its own rules of procedure, and to prescribe for the administration of the
Meister School such general rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are
consistent with the purpose of the Meister School, as defined in Section two of this
Act;

&


h) To receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property of all
kinds and to administer the same in accordance with the directions and instructions
of the donor, and in default thereof, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may
in its discretion determine, for the benefit of the Meister School or for aid to any of
its students; and

i) To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students.

SEC. 8. Quorum. — A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a majority of all
the members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called. All processes against
the Board of Trustees shall be served on the Director or secretary thereof.

SEC. 9. Report to Congress and the President. ~ On or before the fifteenth of June of
each year, the Board of Trustees shall file with the President and Congress of the Philippines a
detailed report, setting forth the progress, condition, and needs of the Meister School.

SEC. 10. Meister School Executive Council. ~ There shall be an Executive Council
consisting of the Director, the heads of departments, and such other ranking faculty members
or officials of the Meister School as may be determined by the Director. The Council shall have
power to screen and select the students to be admitted to the Meister School; to select students
who shall be recipients of scholarship, stipends and other allowances; and to develop the
curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline, all subject to the approval of the Board. The
Council shall have the exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation. Through
the Director it shall have disciplinary power over the students.

The Council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the Board of
‘Trustees and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the Board may prescribe

SEC. 11. Registrar. — There shall be a registrar of the Meister School who shall also act
as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, to be appointed by the Director with the approval of the
Board of Trustees. He or she shall keep such records as may be prescribed by the Board.

SEC. 12. Treasurer. — There shall be a treasurer of the Meister School who shall be
appointed by the Director with the approval of the Board of Trustees. All accounts and expenses
shalll be audited by the Commission on Audit.

SEC. 13. Professors and Staff. — Professors, instructors and other faculty members of
the Meister School shall be exempt as such from any civil service examination or regulations
as a requisite to appointment. They shall be selected in accordance with such criteria as may
be established by the Board of Trustees which shall include, if necessary and practicable,
screening and competitive examination.

Said professors, instructors and faculty members, as well as the school's administrative
staff, shall be exempt from the provisions of laws, rules and regulations on wage and position
classification.

SEC. 14, Gifis and Donations. — All legacies, gifts and donations for the benefit of the
Meister School or for its support and maintenance or for aid to any of its students shall be an
allowable deduction from the gross income of the donors. For the purpose of the income tax,


the Meister School, all taxes, fees, assessments and other charges of the Government, its
branches and subdivisions shall be chargeable to the Tax Expenditure Fund.

SEC. 15. Meister School Fund. — All incomes and donations to the Meister School
created under this Act shall constitute a special fund to be known as a Meister School Fund.
This fund shall be expended by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 16. Assistance from the National Government Agencies. — Heads of bureaus or
offices of the National Government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon request of
the Director of the Meister School, such apparatus, supplies and other properties as may be
needed by the Meister School, and to detail employees for duty therein, when in the judgment
of the head of the bureau or office, they can be spared without serious detriment to the public
service. Employees so detailed shall perform such duties as are required under such detail, and
the time employed shall be counted as part of their regular official hours, all laws, rules and
regulations limiting the detail of government employees notwithstanding.

Any officer, or employee of the Government engaged as lecturer in the Meister School,
may receive a compensation in addition to his salary at the rate to be fixed by the Board:
Provided, that his duties as such lecturer are performed outside of the regular office hours.

SEC. 17. Role of the Industry. — Local chambers of commerce, manufacturing
companies, economic zones and locators, and other private-sector stakeholders in business and
industry shall provide equipment, facilities, scholarships, mentoring, training and jobs for
graduates and students of Meister Schools. Providing a tax

SEC. 18. Free Tuition. — As with national high schools, Meister Schools shall not
charge tuition and other fees.

SEC. 19. Linkages with Technical-Vocational Schools. — Upon request of state
technical-vocation schools, Meister Schools shall provide technical assistance to state technical
vocational schools for the development of their curriculum and pedagogy.

SEC. 20. Appropriations. ~To carry out the purpose of this Act, including the operation
of the Meister School, the acquisition, improvement, and conditioning of the land on which the
Meister School shall be located, the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings and
improvements, and the acquisition of furniture, fixtures and equipment, there shall be
appropriated at least One Hundred Million Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) for each Meister
School. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall make the necessary
adjustments to account for the differences in costs specific to the standard of living in each
region.

Thereafter, the expenses of the Meister School, for the purposes above-described, shall
be provided in the yearly General Appropriation Act of the National Government: Provided,
however, That any unexpected balance for any shall also form part of the aforementioned
Meister School Fund.

SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the Secretary of Trade and Industry, and the Secretary of Science and
Technology, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) working
days from the effectivity of this Act.


SEC. 22. Separability Clause. ~ If any portion or provision of this Act is subsequently
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are
contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended,
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 24. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved.