Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8496)
The short title of Republic Act No. 8496 is the "Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997."
The State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and services. It supports indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities for the country's productive systems and national life.
The objectives include integrating existing PSHS campuses into one system, ensuring uniformity in quality standards and systematizing operations, and rationalizing the establishment of science high schools under the Act.
PSHS are secondary schools offering scholarships to deserving students admitted and trained under a curriculum designed to prepare them for careers in science and technology.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has administrative supervision over the PSHS System.
The Board of Trustees consists of the Secretary of DOST as ex officio Chairman, the Secretary of DECS as ex officio Vice Chairman, the President of U.P., the Executive Director of PSHS, the Director of the Science Education Institute, the President of the PSHS National Alumni Association, and five private sector representatives appointed by the Chairman subject to Board confirmation.
The Board formulates policies for administration and operation, approves curricula, selection and admission criteria, scholarships, disciplinary rules, budgets, receives grants and donations, develops expansion policies, sets criteria for science high schools, and prepares strategic human resource plans for youth in science and mathematics.
For the first appointments, three serve four years and two serve two years; thereafter, succeeding appointments have a fixed term of four years.
The ED coordinates curriculum planning, oversees research on the gifted, coordinates publication and exchange programs, provides legal and technical support, develops linkages among campuses, manages scholar selection programs, ensures secretariat services for the Board, and other necessary functions.
Campus Directors are appointed by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Executive Director based on a search process. They serve a fixed term of six years, renewable for another term, and can only be removed for cause.
The initial implementation is charged against the current budget of existing PSHS campuses with an additional appropriation of twenty million pesos, while continued operation costs are included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The other parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect as per the separability clause.
The Act took effect the day following its complete publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.