SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
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AUG 22 P5 :04 
SEN1T);I 
S.No. 
1j40 
RI~CEI\' ED BY: 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section 1 mandates that 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 available to all. Towards this end, the State shall pursue means of identifying and 
developing other ways to make education accessible to all. 
There are some six institutions accredited by the Commission on Higher Education to 
maintain distance education programs. The trend for this type of education has been growing all 
over the world, online and otherwise. With the advent of the information age through the 
internet, this form of education can be a valuable tool in reaching out to the areas in our country 
which do not have access to the campuses. 
In order to effectively promote this method of learning, we need to be able to secure 
additional information on this subject. 
This bill seeks to commission the Department of Education and the Department of 
Science and Teclmology to undertake a study that would generate sufficient data to guide the 
executive branch of the government in making programs and enable us to provide better 
legislation on this matter.' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fomteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1340 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION 
OF DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS 
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AUG 22 P 5 :04 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Independent Study of 
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Distance Education Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution, Article 14, Section 1 mandates 
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that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels 
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and shall take appropriate steps to make such education available to all. Towards this end, the 
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State shall pursue means of identifying and developing alternative ways to make education 
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accessible to all. 
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SECTION 3. Independent Evaluation. - The Secretary of Education shall enter into an 
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agreement with the Secretary of Science and Technology to conduct a scientifically correct, 
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statistically valid evaluation of the quality of distance education programs, as compared to 
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campus-based education programs, at institutions of higher education. Such evaluation shall 
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include--
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(A) 
Identification of the elements by which the quality of distance education, as 
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compared to campus-based education, can be assessed, including elements such as subj ect 
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matter, interactivity, and student outcomes; 
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(B) 
Identification of distance and campus-based education program success, with 
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respect to student achievement, in relation to the mission of the institution of higher education; 
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and 
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(C) 
By assessing elements, including access to higher education, job placement rates, 
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undergraduate graduation rates, and graduate and professional degree attainment rates, 
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identification of the types of students (including classification of types of students based on 
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student age) who most benefit from distance education programs; who most benefit from 
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campus-based education programs; and who do not benefit from distance education programs. 
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SECTION 4. Interim and Final Report. - The agreement under Section 3 shall require 
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that the Secretary of Education submit to the Senate and the House of Representatives--
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(A) 
An interim report regarding the evaluation under Section 3 not later than six (6) 
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months after the date of enactment of this Act; and 
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(B) 
A final report regarding such evaluation not later than one (1) year after the date 
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of enactment of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as is 
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necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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