Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF KEP8ESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Marila

Fifteenth Congress
t Regular Session

3999

SE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. RENE LOPEZ RELAMPAGOS
Pt ict, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

{his b-Ul, entitled “An Aet to Strengthen Public Elementary and Secondary Sehoo's
Computer Science Edveation and for Other Purposes” seeks to reqaire the Deparunent of
Fdueation (DepEd) to strengthen public elementary and secondary schools comuter seie:ce
education,

Under Section 17 of Article I (Declaration of Princigles and State Policies) of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, the state shall give priority, among others, (0 education, szierse and
technology. Also, under Section | of Article XiV of the Philippine Constitution, “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.”

on public elementary and secondary schools shows, among others, that
in contrast with public schools, computer edveation is more generally available at Filipino
private schools, Elementary, secondary anc post-secondary institutions, plus numerous
commercial schools, offer courses of varying quality “One of the most highly regerted private
stitutions is the Jesuit-operated -Ateneo de Manile University. Under Ateneo’s auspices ani
located on its 100 hectare campus is a K-8 school with an enrollment of about 4,000 oys and a
computer education esiablished in 1983. (Journal Article by Janet J. Palmer: T fi & Journal
[Technological Horizons in Education}, Vol. 20, 1993) Basic education (eemeniary sad
secondary sciools) in pudlie schools (in the Philippines) may be free but the facilities and
educational supplies like books are not entirely free. x x x And, students who may require
computer and science laboratories may just be contented with a single comprter unit or
borrowed laboratory apparatuses. x x Some state universities and colleges (SUC») have
minimal computer units which are shared among thousands of students, The ratio of utility
can vary fron* one computer to 10 students (1:10) or one to twenty (1:20) that even Computer
‘cience students have to share units with other students. (Philippine Portal.com)

A researt

For some time now, business processing outsourcing (BPO) has been reputed to be the

fastest-growing industry in the world. The broader industry goes beyond call centess to include
anther services such as business back office operations, including finance, logistics and
accounting; medical and legal transcription, software development and mainienance;

animation; and engineering and architecturai design. Around the world, the industry is seen to
be still developing, as more and more organizwions discover the cost-saving advantage that
come with off-shoring and outsourcing of services. A study by international .nvestment
consultancy firm Mekinsey & Company valued the potential giobal market for BPO at US$450
billion, with only 10 to 12 percent penetrated so far. Hence. the potential for growth is
enormous. Recent experience also proved the industry to be resilient and relatively recession-
proof: when the global economic crisis hit, many companies actually tumed to outsourcing as a
cost-saving coping mechanism against the downturn, In the Philippines, the business
processing outsoureing (BPO) industry has reportedly been zooming at annual growth rates
of up to 46 percent since 2006, with call centers leading the way. x x x x Right now, the



nmed relative

main obstacle fo achieving that gi owth is « growing shovtag- of qualified pers
to the needs of the industyy. The indusiry requires a relatively high level of ecvcation aad
NGLISH AND COMPUTER LITERACY.
Except for entry-level jobs in ANIMATION, almost all positions in the industry require a
ic areas. The problem is that the bulk of
ployed, numbering some 2 to 3 million, are mostly not qualified for
ss Filipines are predominantly young /30 percent below age 34),
y mostly »ttaiued only a HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION or less.
Sustaining :-owth in this industry therefore requires deliberate efforts to maintain a
pipeline of Osiced qualified workers to respond to the industry's growing demands. x x x
(Cielito F. Habito, No Free Lunch, Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 7, 2010. p. A+! 1)

statistic:

believes that if this bill will ke signed into law the
predominantly young Filipinos will sequire a relatively high levei skitls in computer literacy and
hurdle the growing shortage of qualified personne! elative to the needs of the growing BPC
industry whic) will eventually help our country acaieve unprecedented ard zooming srowth ia

the said industry.

This representation stro

in this Fifteenth Congress, Representatives Augusto Syjuco and Rosenda Ann Ocampo
filed HB No. 00976 on July 7, 2010 a proposed “Act Mandating the Use of the Proceeds from
Gross Receipts Tax Imposed on Cellular Phone Companies ‘0 Finance the Computer Literacy
Programs of Public Schools and for Other Purposes.” This representation is of the ‘inv veliet
that his bill is complementary to and may be consolidated with HB No. 00976 of Representatives
Syjuco and Geampe avd therefore can be heard jointly by the House committee(s) concerne

The satient features of this bill are as follows: It directs the Secretary of the Depariment of
Education (Seeretary of Education) to develop a two-year comprehensive plans to improve
and strengthen public elementary and secondary schools computer sciesce in the
Pbilippines. ‘This bill mandates such improvements to include: (1) challenging and grade
appropriate academic content standards for computer seience; (2) grade-appropriate assessraents
of computer seience learning: (3) programs to increase disadvantaged students’ access te
computer scivace courses; (4) public elementary and secondary computer science teache
training programs; (5) improved certification requirements and processes for such teachers; (6)
programs t ensure that computer science courses are considered an integra’ part of the
secondary school curriculum; (7) effective computer science curricula; and (8) computer distance

‘ning programs

This bill also requires the Department of Education to partner with institutions of higher
education (IFEs) and non-profit private educational agencies in implementing such measures.
Likewise, the bill direets the Secretary ef Education to establish a Commission on Computer
Science Education to provide recommendations to the said Secretary and Congress of the
Philippines for expanding and improving computer science in public elementary and secondary
schools, It (bill) authorizes the Secretary of Education to award five-year grants, with the
approval of the President of Philippines, to [HEs to improve public and secondary schools
computer science teacher training.

This Dill substantially adopts the H.R. 5929 entitled ‘Computer Science Education Act
of 2010” whicr was filed on July 29, 2010 and is ~ ow pending in the House of Repzesentatives
of the United States Congress. This representation firmly believes that the following findings,
among others, of the U.S. Congress on computer technology in the United States are equally
true, relevant, valid and existing also in the Philippines, especially in the public elementary and
dary schools, to wit.

sece

1) Computing technology. driven by breakthroughs in computer
part of the culture and és reshaping how people iitteract.



2) Computer science is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving
innovation in a!] fields of science. and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors.

which

3) Computer science underpins the information technology sector of the econo:
ant contributor to the economic output

isa signi

4) ‘The Bureau of Labor Statistics (Uinited States) projects that from 2008 to 2618 more
than 1,500,000 high-wage computing jobs will be created in the economy, making high-wape
computing one: of the fastest growing occupational fields.

5) Computer science is critical for national security and for meeting the challenges that a

modern soeiety faces

6) Providing students with computer science education in clementary and
ondary schools is critical for student success in the 21" century and for strengthen
the workforee. (Underscoring supplied.)

7) Biementary and secondary computer science education gives students a deeper
knowledge of the fundamentals of computing, yielding critical thinking skills that will serve
them throughout their lives in numerous fields. (Underscoring supplied)

8) Computer science courses in elementary and secondary schools are fading from the
national landscape at a time when they are most needed. ‘The Computer Science Teachers
Association (CSTA) has found that introductory secondary computer science courses have
din number by 17 percent since 2005 and the number of Advanced Placement (AP)
33 percent.

deere:
computer science courses has decreased by

9) The CSTA has found that many States do not have certification process for computer
seience teachers, and where certification process do exist. such processes often no
conneetion to computer science content.

10) Computer science education has been encumbered by confusion regarding related
but distinet concepts of computer education, technology education, and the use of technology in
edu

11) Computer science education courses have often placed within the vocational
education pathways in schools, creating a focus on applied information technology skills rather
than a focus on developing core computer science knowledge.

12) With the growing importance of computing in society, the need for students 10
understand the fundamentals of computing, and the significant challenges computer science faces
in elementary and secondary education, broad support for computer science education is needed
to catalyze reform,

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

A
RENE ‘pre RELAMPAGOS


Republic of the Philippines
= OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Cir

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2
HOUSE BILL NO. 3939

Introduced by HON. RENE LGPEZ RELAMPAGOS
1" District, Bohol

AN ACT
TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
COMPUTER EDUCATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled.

n Act to Strengthen Public

TION 1. TITLE. - This Act shall be known as
Llementary and Secondary Schools Computer Science Education.”

SEC. 2. FINDIN

‘The Congress finds the following:

cience. is a” integral

(1) Computing technology, driven by break:hroughs in computer
part of the culture of the Philippines and is reshaping how people interact.
(2) Computer science is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerve, driving
innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in estabtished economi

(3) Computer science underpins the infermation technology sector of the PI:itippine
economy, which is a significant contributor to the economic output of the Philippines.

(4) The Department of Labor of the Philippines lists that one of the “Hard-to-Fill
Occupations” is in cyberservice sucis as: software development, computer privet
developers (Sefiware, Web), [T/Information Technology (MIS Developer, Platform Engineer),
Specialist (Learning Solution, System and Technical Support), and Animation Artist, Web
yer, Multimedia Arti Builder, Layout Artist, 2D digital animator, Call Center
Agent and Medical ‘Transcription. These high-wage computing jobs if creaied in the Philippines.
will make high-wage computing one of the fastest growing occupational fields in our country, In
the Philippines, the business process outsourcing process (BPO) industry has reportedly been
zooming at annual growth rates of up to 46 percent since 2006, with call centers leading the way.
‘The main obstacles to achieving that growth is a growing shortage of qualified personne’ relative
to the needs of the industry. The industry requires a relatively high level of education and skills,
particularly high proficiency in English and computer literacy.

(5) Computer science is critical for national secut d for meeting the challenges that
faces. Of the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering determined by the National
Academy of Engineering of the United States. eight (8) have a predominant or significant
‘ompenent

a modern society

computer science

(6) Providing students with computer science education in public elementary and
secondary schools is critical for student success in the 21“ century and for strengthening the
workforce.


(7) Public elementary and secondary schools computer science education gives students
a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of computing, yielding critical thinking skills that will
serve them throughout their lives in numerous fields.

(8) Computer science courses in public elementary and secondary schools are fading

from the national landscape at a time when they are most needed.

(9) The Department of Education does not have a certification process for computer
seience teachers in public elementary and secondary schools.

(10) Computer science education has been encumbered by confusion regerding the
related but distinct concepts of computer science education, technology education and the use of
(chnology in education.

(11) Computer science education courses, if any, have often been placed within the
vocational education pathways in schools, creating a focus on applied information technology
skills rather than a focus on developing core computer science knowledge.

(12) With the growing importance of computing in society, the need for public
clementary and secondary school students to understand the fundamentals of computing. and the
significant challenges computer science education faces in public elementary and secondary
education, broad support for computer science education is needed to catalyze reform

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - Ir this Act:
(1) COMPUTER SCIENCE - The term “computer science” means the study of

computers and algorithmic processes and includes the study of computing principles, computer
hardware and software design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on society

(2) COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION — The term “computer science educ
includes computing education in any of the following:

(A) Software design
(B) Hardware design.
(C) Creation of digital artifacts.

(D) Abstraction.

(B) Logi
(F) Algorithm development and implementation.
(G) Programming paradigms and languages.

(H) Theoretical foundations.

(1) Networks.

() Graphics.

(K) Databases and information retrieval.

(L) Information security and privacy.


(M) Aniificial intelligence

(N) The reiationship between computing and mathematic:
(O) The limits of computation.

(P) Applications in information tecanology and information systems,

(Q) The social impacts of computing

(3) INSTITUTION OF HiGHER EDUCATION — The term “institution of higher
education” means an educational institution in the Philippines that

(a) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation
irom a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of
such a

tes

(b) ist authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the
Philippines to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;

(c) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s
degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit
toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission wo a

graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approve! by the

Commission on Higher Education; and

(d) is_a public or other nonproiit private educational institution:

SECRETARY — The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of
jucation (DepEd).

(5) STUDENTS UNDERREPRESENTED IN COMPUTING - The term “students
underrepresented in computing —

(A) means populations historically underrepresented in computer science
disciplines; and

(B)

des females, racial mino-ities, and low income students.

SE

. 4, COMPREHENSIVE PLANNIN

(a) Program Authorized ~ The Secretary shall develop comprehensive plans to
strengthen public elementary and secondary schools computer science education in the
Philippines in accordance with this section.

(b) Objectives - A comprehensive plan developed under this section shall outline
stategivs for achieving the following objectives:

(1) Provide an engaging and rigorous science education intended to enst
students are prepared for the 21* century.

(2) Assess the public elementary and secondary schools needs for computer

science education. particularly those in rural areas.


sure ace

@) Es to computer science courses, particularly at low-performing,
public elementary and secondary schools and for their low-income students and
students underrepresented in computing.

(1) Ensure that students are exposed to grade-appropriate computer science
concepts in grade 1 through grade 6 and that computer science courses at the
secondary level are viewed as part of the core curriculum students need to be
college-and carcer-ready

(5) Ensure that teachers have the appropriate background, skills and access to
resources to teach computer science.

(c) Contents of Comprehensive Plans ~ The comprehensive plan that shall be developed
by the Seeretary under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the public elementary and sec
science education in the Philippines.

ry schools computer

(2) Proposals to improve publi
seience education in the Philippin
of

elementary and secondary schools computer
through the development and implementation

(A) challenging and grade-appropriate academic content standards for
computer science at elementary and secondary education level

(B)_grade-appropriate essessments of computer science learning;

(C) programs to increase access to computer science courses for students
of low-performing elementary and secondary schools and students
underrepresented in computing;

(D) improved computer science teacher cert
pros

ation requirements and

() professional development programs for computer science teachers;
and

(E) programs for ensuring that computer science courses at the secondary
level are considered part of the curriculum students need to be well
prepared for higher education and employment.

(d) Consultation In developing a comprehensive plan under this section, the Secretary
shall collaborate with representatives of institutions of higher education, Department of
and Technology and with other interested parties.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION ON COMPUTER SCIENCE E!

(a) Commission — Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall establish a Commission, to be known as “Commission on Computer Science Education” (in
this section referred to as the “Commission”), to provide recommendations for expanding and
improving computer science education,

(b) Membership - ‘The Commission shall consist of not more than 10 members and shall
include at least one of each of the following to be chosen by the Secretary:

(1) A senior official, preferably an Undersecretary or Assistant Secretary, from
the Department of Education. ‘This official shall act as presiding officer of



meetings that may be called by him to accomplish the purposes and objectives for
which the Commission is established.

(2) An expert in computer science preferably from the Department of Science
and Technology

(3) A representative of an elementary or secondary computer education
practitioner organization

(4) An public elementary or secondary computer science teacher

(5) A social scientist with expertise on equity issues in the field of compuier

science,

(6) A representative of the computing industry or an industry that depends on
computing services.

(c) Review ~ The Commission shall —

cience

(1) review the state of public elementary and secondary computer s
education in the Philippines; and

(2) review the state of computer science teacher certification requirements in
public elementary and secondary computer education in the Philippines.

(d) Meeting of the Commission — Within 270 days after the date on which the
Commission is established, the Commission through its presiding officer, may call_ meetings to
accomplish the objectives and purposes in subsections (a), (c) and (e) of this Section ‘The
presiding officer and the members of the Commission shall receive a per diem for each meeting
duly called by the presiding officer of the Commission and actually attended by them: Provided,
That such per diems shall not exceed ten (10) thousand pesos (P10,000.00) during any one
month for each member; Provided, further, That no other allowances or any form ol
compensation shall be paid them except actual expenses in traveling to or trom their residence to
attend the Commission meetings.

(c) Report - Not later than 270 days after the date on which the Commission is
established, the Commission shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report containing the

results of the review under subsection (c). Such report shall include -

(1) recommendations on best practices for computer science instruction, teacher
preparation, and professional development;

st practices for computer science teacher certification,
mendations on achieving congruence between public

tion standards and the content of teacher
nstitutions of higher education; and

(2) recommen
including rec
computer science teacher certifi
preparation programs offered by

(3) recommendations for expanding capacity ~

(A) to help public elementary and secondary school students understa
computer science, the job opportunities available to those who pursue
computer science education, and the importance of computer science in
the economy;

(B) to strengthen computer science education in the elementary and
secondary public education system in the Philippines; and



(C)_to increase participation in computer science among students
underrepresented in computing.

(0). Termination ~ Unless extended by the Secretary, the Commission shall terminate on
the date that is sixty (60) days afier the date of the submission of the report required under
subsection (¢).

eC. 6. MOL

eL TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.

(a) Model Teacher Preparation Programs ~ The Secretary, with the approval of the
President of the Philippines, may award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to
improve public elementary and secondary schools computer science teacher training which shall
be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of Education under the General
Appropriations Act.

(b) Eligible Activities — A grant received under subsection (a) of this section shail be
ised to carry cut at least one of the following activit

(1) Development of courses for undergraduate students that -

(A) prepare such students to (each computer science at the public
elementary and secondary level;

jence education: and

(B) address content and pedagogy in computer s

(C) engage teacher education and other relevant departments at such
institution of higher education.

(2) Development and support of mentoring programs to support computer science
teachers in public elementary and secondary schools who are new to the
profession.

(c) Duration of Grants — Each grant awarded by the Secretary under this section shall be
for a period of five (5) years.

(d) Limitations ~ The Secretary may not award grants under this section before the
of the date of the submission of the report of the Commission on Computer Science
Education required under section 5 (e), or the date that is one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, ‘The Secretary shall consider such report, if available, in awarding grants under this
section

WC. 7, NATIONAL EVALUATION, -

(a) In General — Not earlier than four (4) years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall contract with an independent organization for a comprehensive, scientifically
valid, and quantitative evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the activities funded
by grants received under this Act in improving the availability and quality of computer science
education in public elementary and secondary schools, the overall participation rates of public
clementary and secondary students in computer science courses, and the participation rate of
students underrepresented in computing in computer science courses.

(b) Reporting Requirements ~

(1) INITIAL REPORT — Not later than five (5) years after the enactment of this,
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the
evaluation described in subsection (a).



(2) REPORT UPDATES — Not fater than qwo (2) years after the date on which
the Secretary submits the initial report required under paragraph (1), and
biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an update of such
report

neces: live

SEC. 8 APPROPRIATIONS. - The amoui ry for the el
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of
Fducation, Then, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 9. RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The Department of Education shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act not laver than six
(6) months atler the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 10. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts and provisions not affected shall remain
in full force and effect

SEC. II, REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
repealed or modified accordingly.

EFRECTIVITY.
publication in the Official G
circulation

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
ette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

Approved,