THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
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, schools test 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 must be developed. 
The administration of achievement tests at the highest elementary grades 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. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduce< by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING AND RESEARCH 
CENTER (NERTC) INTO A NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND 
EVALUATION AUTHORITY (NEAEA), DEFINING ITS STRUCTURE, POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "National Education 
Assessment and Evaluation Act of 2004". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall 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. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
(a) 
(b) 
"Authority" shall mean the National Education Assessment and Evaluation 
Authority. 
"Assessment" covers a broader scope than the restrictive connotations of 
the term's 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. 
“Equivalency, Certification and Accreditation” shall mean methods of 
assessing and evaluating an individual’s level of proficiency in a specified 
area. 
“Alternative Learning System” shall mean the non-school-based methods 
acquiring knowledge and skills. 
SECTION 4. National Education Assessment and Evaluation Authority. To 
implement the policy declared in this Act, the National Education Testing and Research 
Center (MNETRC) 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 time that an appropriate body is created by law. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 6. Composifion of fhe NEAEA Board. The Authority shall be 
governed by a Board, which shall be composed of the following members: 
Ex-Officio Members 
a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
The Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; 
The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment; 
The Secretary of Department of Science and Technology; 
The Commission on Higher Education; 
Reaular Members 
e) 
A representative of 
public technical education and skills 
f) 
A representative of private technical education and skills and 
development institutions; 
development institutions; 
A representative of public higher education institutions; 
A representative of private higher education institutions; 
g) 
h) 


i) 
j) 
k) 
An eminent educator in the field of Measurement and Evaluation; 
An eminent educator in the field of Educational Research; and 
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, upon the recommendation of their respective organizations andlor peers, for 
a term of three (3) years without prejudice to one (1) reappointment shall appoint them. 
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 members of the Board shall hold office during their incumbency. 
SECTION 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 carious 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 aptitude tests to be 
administered not later than second year high school; 
c) 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; 
e) To disseminate to concerned publics 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; 
I) 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. 
SECTION 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 hold the rank and emoluments of Undersecretary. Hislher 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 approves by the Board. 
SECTION 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 receive their corresponding salaries and benefits until 
such time when the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
Authority will 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 
the Appropriation and other funds and liabilities of the NETRC shall be 
transferred to the Authority. 
c) The transition period shall not exceed one year from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION IO. 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. 
SECTION 11. 
Repealing Clause. Presidential Decree No. 146, and all 
executive orders, presidential decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof inconsistency with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 12. €ffecfivify. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the official gazette and in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.