Implementing Rules for RA 10612 Scholarship Act

Legal basis, policy, and objectives

The rules are issued pursuant to Section 17 of Republic Act No. 10612.
The rules are meant to implement Republic Act No. 10612, titled “An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Program and Strengthening the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools and for Other Purposes,” otherwise known as the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013.”
The State policy emphasizes that science, technology, and engineering are essential for national development and progress.
The State prioritizes research and development, invention, innovation and their utilization, and gives priority to science and technology education, training and services (Rule I, Section 2).
The policy aims to promote science and technology manpower aligned with economic development and to provide capability for research, development, innovation and their utilization (Rule I, Section 2).
The rules direct scholarship support to deserving science students and other specially-gifted citizens to pursue higher education or training in science, technology and engineering, and to provide incentives for them to become secondary school teachers, especially in their home regions (Rule I, Section 2).
The general objectives are to strengthen S&T education by fast tracking graduates who will teach science and mathematics subjects in secondary schools nationwide (Rule I, Section 3).

Core definitions and key terms

“Act” refers to Republic Act No. 10612, the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013” (Rule II, Section 1(a)).
“CHED-Compliant Programs” are specific programs meeting minimum requirements under relevant CHED policies, standards, and guidelines (Rule II, Section 1(b)).
“General Weighted Average (GWA)” is the representation of overall scholastic standing based on grades in all academic subjects during the first and second year in college in the applicant’s S&T priority course (Rule II, Section 1(c)).
“Science and Technology (S&T) Priority Courses” are four (4) or five (5) year courses in basic sciences, mathematics, engineering and other applied sciences identified as priority fields by DOST-SEI (Rule II, Section 1(d)).
“Republic Act No. 10533” refers to “An Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System by Strengthening Its Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes,” otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” (Rule II, Section 1(e)).
“Regular Third Year College Student” is a student who completed first and second years in college with no failing grade in all academic subjects and is currently enrolled in full load in third year as prescribed by the curricular program (Rule II, Section 1(f)).
“Junior Level Science Scholarship” refers to two (2) or three (3) year science scholarship grants awarded to regular third year college students enrolled in priority S&T courses at identified institutions (Rule III, Section 2).

Undergraduate scholarship criteria and terms

The scholarship program builds on DOST’s S&T scholarships offered through SEI under Republic Act No. 7687 (Rule III, Section 1).
The scholarship fast tracks more S&T graduates by offering scholarships to deserving students in their third year of undergraduate study, based on competitiveness and merit (Rule III, Section 1).
The scholarship also provides additional incentives to attract graduates to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses in public or private high schools (Rule III, Section 1).

Eligibility requirements for applicants

Applicants must be Filipino citizens (Rule III, Section 2(a)).
Applicants must be regular third year college students at the time of award (Rule III, Section 2(b)).
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a state university or college, or private university or college, especially in CHED-compliant programs, under identified priority S&T courses (Rule III, Section 2(c)).
Applicants must have a GWA of at least eighty-three percent (83%) or its equivalent in their first and second years in college (Rule III, Section 2(d)).
Applicants must pass the Junior Level Science Scholarship Examination administered by DOST-SEI (Rule III, Section 2(e)).

Award amounts, duration, and course priority

Recipients are entitled to an annual award for full-time study equal to the complete financial assistance package under Republic Act No. 7687 (Rule III, Section 3).
Recipients must attend an approved undergraduate program at quality schools such as CHED-compliant programs and DOST Network Institutions that are public or private (Rule III, Section 3).
Private school enrollment must include minimum slots awarded in private schools to offset differences in tuition costs (Rule III, Section 3).
DOST-SEI must provide guidelines determining the minimum number of slots awarded to students enrolled in private schools (Rule III, Section 3).
Recipients receive an award for the last two (2) years of undergraduate study, or the last three (3) years for students in five (5)-year courses such as engineering, while matriculating in an approved program (Rule III, Section 4).
Recipients must pursue degrees in science, technology and engineering as identified and approved by DOST as priority S&T courses (Rule III, Section 5).
Applicants enrolled under such courses under CHED-compliant programs receive priority (Rule III, Section 5).

Service contract and return of service conditions

Scholarship applicants must execute a service contract requiring them to teach as their return of service (Rule III, Section 6(a)).
Scholarship applicants must agree to teach in the secondary level of basic education in a public or private high school as return of service (ROS) (Rule III, Section 6(a)).
The service contract must require agreement to approved ROS conditions (Rule III, Section 6(b)).
The service contract must require repayment of amounts disbursed plus interest applicable if the recipient fails to comply with contract terms (Rule III, Section 6(c)).
The service contract must stipulate the grounds for breach and the corresponding penalties, including the definite period of payment (Rule III, Section 6).

Distribution of scholarship slots

DOST allocates scholarship slots to areas based on the recommendation of DepEd (Rule III, Section 7).
DepEd must provide and continuously update an information system containing the specific regions where there is a dearth of Science, Technology and Mathematics teachers at the secondary level (Rule III, Section 7).

Return of service, incentives, and training

Return of service (ROS) requirements

Award recipients must teach full-time high school subject(s) in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, or Information Technology or Agricultural, Aquaculture or Fisheries Technology (Rule IV, Section 1).
Award recipients must teach both in the university and technical-vocational tracks in the secondary education curriculum (Rule IV, Section 1).
Award recipients must teach for a minimum of two (2) years in a public or private high school (Rule IV, Section 1).
The term “university rack” is defined as the academic track offered under the K to 12 Basic Education Program Curriculum (Rule IV, Section 1).

Incentives for qualified graduates

Qualified graduates hired to teach at a public or private high school for a minimum of two (2) years are entitled to incentives (Rule IV, Section 2).
Qualified graduates receive a starting salary grade equivalent to that of a Special Science Teacher I in the Philippine Science High School System (Rule IV, Section 2(a)).
DepEd, in consultation with DOST and the Department of Budget and Management, issues additional guidelines for implementing this salary-grade incentive (Rule IV, Section 2(a)).
Qualified graduates receive priority for job placement in any high school of their choice within the country, with first priority in their home province (Rule IV, Section 2(b)).
Qualified graduates receive a one-time relocation allowance if assigned outside their permanent residence (Rule IV, Section 2(c)).
Qualified graduates are entitled to scholarships in identified teacher education institutions for Science Education courses (Rule IV, Section 2(d)).
Qualified graduates get teaching opportunity even without LET eligibility, with the condition that they pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) within five (5) years from date of hiring (Rule IV, Section 2(e)).

Opt-in for RA No. 7687 recipients

Recipients of the four (4) or five (5)-year S&T Undergraduate Scholarships under RA No. 7687 may opt to teach full-time any courses identified in Section 1, Rule IV for a minimum of two (2) years in a public or private high school in their home region (Rule IV, Section 2).

Hiring rules and training responsibility

DepEd and private educational institutions must apply teacher hiring requirements set by the IRR of Republic Act No. 10533 when hiring recipients of the Act and RA No. 7687 (Rule IV, Section 3).
The Philippine Normal University (PNU), as the National Center for Teacher Education under Republic Act No. 9647, and its network of universities in teacher education, provide training for hired teachers under the program (Rule IV, Section 4).
One thousand (1,000) scholarships are available every year for the hired teachers to be sourced from DepEd and coordinated with implementation of the teacher education and training provision of RA No. 10533 (Rule IV, Section 4).
PNU, with other designated teacher education institutions, in collaboration with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), designs and implements a teacher training program to develop pedagogically sound and technically effective learning designs and methodologies for secondary students (Rule IV, Section 4).
The training program is designed toward eventual qualification of hired teachers to take the LET (Rule IV, Section 4).

Additional pathways for other STEM graduates

Eligibility for non-scholarship STEM applicants

Other STEM graduates and professionals who are not scholarship recipients under the Act may apply to teach science, mathematics or technology subjects in public or private high schools (Rule V, Section 1).
Applicants must be Filipino citizens (Rule V, Section 1(a)).
Applicants must have graduated with a STEM degree with a GWA of eighty-three percent (83%) or better from a reputable university (Rule V, Section 1(b)).
Applicants must be at least forty (40) years of age at the time of application (Rule V, Section 1(c)).
Applicants must not have a service obligation under another program that conflicts with DOST-SEI obligations (Rule V, Section 1(d)).
Applicants must comply with other requirements that PRC requires under RA No. 7836 and the provisions of RA No. 10533 and its IRR, including requirements on Continuing Professional Education/Continuing Professional Development for qualified STEM professionals (Rule V, Section 1(e)).
Qualified graduates and professionals receive teacher training programs in teacher education institutions specified under Section 4, Rule IV to prepare them for full-time teaching in a public or private high school in their home region (Rule V, Section 1).

Hiring guidance

DepEd and private educational institutions must follow teacher hiring requirements under RA No. 10533 provisions for hiring teachers under Rule V (Rule V, Section 2).

Implementing agencies and their functions

The DOST-SEI is the main implementing agency for provisions of the IRR (Rule VI, Section 1).
SEI is responsible for evaluation, award-giving, and monitoring of scholarship grants and awardees (Rule VI, Section 1).
SEI coordinates with other relevant agencies to fulfill the goals of the Act and the IRR (Rule VI, Section 1).
SEI must formulate and prescribe timely and relevant guidelines on monitoring and evaluation of scholars’ academic performance to determine the rates of financial assistance and graduates’ compliance with obligations (Rule VI, Section 1).
DepEd ensures job placement and hiring of qualified graduates as secondary school teachers for science, mathematics and related technology courses under the program (Rule VI, Section 2).
DepEd ensures teachers are hired at Special Science Teacher salary grade levels specified in the Act, consistent with teacher hiring provisions of RA No. 10533 and its IRR (Rule VI, Section 2).
DepEd is tasked to evaluate and monitor hired teachers under the program (Rule VI, Section 2).

Information, monitoring, funding, amendments

Public information and advocacy

DOST and DepEd, in coordination with CHED, local government units, and non-government organizations or people’s organizations, conduct information, education and advocacy activities on the Act and this IRR through the media and other lawful means (Rule VII, Section 1).
Public information, education and advocacy activities must focus on areas where there is dearth or shortage of Science, Technology and Mathematics teachers at the secondary level (Rule VII, Section 1).
Public information, education and advocacy activities commence within 60 days from issuance of the IRR and continue every year thereafter (Rule VII, Section 1).
The advocacy focus emphasizes additional incentives that attract graduates to teach science, mathematics and technology subjects in public or private high schools (Rule VII, Section 1).

Review reporting and meetings

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act, DepEd, CHED, and DOST report to the President and Congress after the first three (3) years, and annually thereafter, on implementation of the Act and this IRR with recommendations for improvement (Rule VII, Section 2).
DepEd, CHED, and DOST monitor hiring in high schools of scholars under the program and conduct tracer studies included in annual reports (Rule VII, Section 2).
DepEd, CHED, and DOST conduct regular bi-annual meetings and special meetings when necessary (Rule VII, Section 2).
Meeting agendas include improvement of policies/programs/projects/activities and problems arising from implementation, including distribution of scholarship slots, hiring of award recipients and other STEM graduates, and mechanisms for complying with return of service conditions (Rule VII, Section 2).

Implementing details and guidelines

DOST and DepEd may issue policies and guidelines necessary to further implement the IRR (Rule VII, Section 3).
Amendments to the IRR are jointly promulgated by the Secretaries of DOST and DepEd (Rule VII, Section 5).

Appropriations and funding sources

The amount necessary to carry out implementation of Chapter II of the Act is charged against the current year’s appropriations of the SET under DOST (Rule VII, Section 4).
Thereafter, sums necessary to augment the Science and Technology Scholarship Fund under RA No. 7687 are included in the annual General Appropriations Act (Rule VII, Section 4).
SEI is authorized to accept grants, contributions, and/or donations from domestic and foreign sources for scholarship grants (Rule VII, Section 4).

Separability and repealing rules

If any provision or part of the IRR is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions remain valid and effective (Rule VII, Section 6).
All rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the IRR are deemed repealed or modified accordingly (Rule VII, Section 7).