Law Summary
Obligation to Regulate Licensure Examinations
- The State must ensure and promote quality education through supervising and regulating licensure examinations.
- These examinations are administered by various Boards of Examiners under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Need for Regulation of Review Centers
- There is currently no regulatory framework governing review centers and similar entities.
- Recent events show that unregulated review centers can adversely affect public interest and welfare.
- Substandard centers and unethical practices necessitate immediate regulatory action.
Authority of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
- Republic Act No. 7722 (Higher Education Act of 1994) created CHED.
- CHED is deemed best equipped to regulate establishment and operation of review centers and similar entities.
Directive to CHED for Framework Development
- CHED, in consultation with concerned agencies, is directed to formulate:
- Policies, standards, and guidelines for establishment, operation, and accreditation of review centers.
- A mechanism to monitor adequacy, transparency, and propriety of operations.
- Reporting systems to review performance and ethical practices.
Coordination and Technical Support
- Various government agencies and bodies shall provide assistance to CHED, including:
- Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
- Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Boards of Examiners
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
- Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)
- Relevant non-government organizations such as professional societies.
Establishment of a Permanent CHED Office
- CHED shall organize a permanent office headed by a Director.
- Staff must be experts in educational assessment, policy development, legal and enforcement, statistics, curriculum, and instructional development.
- CHED must submit staffing and budgetary requirements to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Indorsement and Permit Requirements
- No review center shall establish or operate review classes without CHED’s favorable indorsement and issuance of necessary permits.
- A compliance period (max three years) will be given for existing centers after EO publication.
- CHED must complete necessary procedural frameworks within 60 days of EO effectivity.
Funding Provisions
- Initial funding shall come from CHED’s Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) or other DBM-identified sources.
- Subsequent funding to be included in CHED’s annual budget appropriations.
- CHED may create special funds within HEDF specifically for implementing this regulatory system.
Review and Reporting Obligations
- CHED shall conduct periodic reviews and evaluations of review centers and similar entities.
- Reports on performance and monitoring results must be submitted to the Office of the President.
Separability Clause
- If any part of the order is declared unconstitutional, other provisions remain effective as long as they can stand independently.
Repealing Clause
- Conflicting rules, regulations, or issuances inconsistent with this EO are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.