QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9163)
NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three (3) program components.
The NSTP components are (1) Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), (2) Literacy Training Service, and (3) Civic Welfare Training Service.
No. Under RA 9163, ROTC is made optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of the Act.
Students, male and female, of any baccalaureate degree course or at least two (2)-year technical-vocational courses in public and private educational institutions must complete one (1) of the NSTP components as a requisite for graduation.
Each NSTP component shall be undertaken for two (2) semesters. Alternatively, a one (1) summer program may be designed and adopted in lieu of the two-semester program.
All higher and technical-vocational institutions (public and private) must offer at least one NSTP component; state universities and colleges must offer ROTC and at least one other component.
Private institutions may offer ROTC if they have at least 350 cadet students.
They must allow their students to cross-enroll to other schools, regardless of whether the NSTP components are administered by the same or another branch of the AFP or other responsible agencies to which schools are identified.
Educational institutions shall not collect any fee for NSTP components except basic tuition fees, which shall not be more than 50% of what schools currently charge per unit.
The DND must formulate and adopt a program of assistance and/or incentive for students who take ROTC.
CHED and TESDA (and the school authorities as part of the arrangement) must ensure that group insurance for health and accident is provided for students enrolled in any NSTP component.
RA 9163 creates a Special Scholarship Program for qualified NSTP students, administered by CHED and TESDA, with funds included in their annual regular appropriations.
School authorities exercise academic and administrative supervision. If a CHED- or TESDA-accredited NGO is contracted to formulate and administer a training module, supervision is exercised jointly, and the module must be accredited by CHED and TESDA.
It is composed of NSTP graduates of the non-ROTC components; the State may tap its members for literacy and civic welfare activities through the joint effort of DND, CHED, and TESDA.
Graduates of ROTC shall form part of the Citizens' Armed Force pursuant to RA 7077.
They may continue in their current component or shift to other components of their choice; if they shift, completed Basic ROTC courses are counted toward the NSTP requirement, but once shifted they must complete NSTP in the new component.
RA 9163 suspends the ROTC completion requirement as a requisite for graduation for such students.
It takes effect 15 days after publication in two newspapers of national circulation, but implementation begins in the school year 2002–2003.