Title
Establishing Philippine Science HS System
Law
Republic Act No. 8496
Decision Date
Feb 12, 1998
The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act of 1997 establishes the Philippine Science High School System, integrating existing and future campuses under the administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology, with a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director, and provides funding for its implementation and operation.
research and development
invention
innovation

Policy and purpose of the PSHS System

  • The State gives priority to Research and Development, invention, innovation, and their utilization, and to Science and Technology education, training and services (Section 2).
  • The State supports indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities and their application to the country’s productive systems and national life (Section 2).
  • The Act establishes a PSHS System to assume a leadership role in secondary level science and technology education (Section 2).
  • The State integrates and rationalizes science high school governance, quality, and establishment under the PSHS System (Section 3).

Core definitions and term

  • Philippine Science High Schools (PSHS) are secondary schools offering scholarships to deserving students admitted and trained under a curriculum specially designed to prepare them for careers in science and technology (S & T) (Section 4).
  • “Term” refers to the term of office with a duration of six (6) years in one term (Section 4).

Coverage and system composition

  • The Philippine Science High School System is composed of the existing PSHS campuses at Diliman, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas and Mindanao (Section 5).
  • The System also includes future campuses that shall be established under the Act (Section 5).

DOST supervision and governance structure

  • The PSHS System is under the administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) (Section 6).
  • A Board of Trustees governs the PSHS System (Section 7).

Board of Trustees: composition and powers

  • The Board of Trustees includes: (1) the secretary of the DOST as ex officio Chairman; (2) the secretary of DECS as ex officio Vice Chairman; (3) the President of the U.P.; (4) the Executive Director of PSHS; (5) the Director of the Science Education Institute (SEI); and (6) the President from the PSHS National Alumni Association as ex officio members (Section 7).
  • The Board also includes one (1) representative each from the private sector representing higher education, education for the gifted, industry, agriculture, and new and emerging technologies (Section 7).
  • Private sector representatives are appointed by the Chairman and subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees (Section 7).
  • For the first set of appointments, three (3) private sector representatives serve four (4) years, while the other two (2) serve two (2) years; thereafter, succeeding appointments have a fixed term of four (4) years (Section 7).
  • The Board formulates policies and guidelines for administration and operation of the PSHS System (Section 7).
  • The Board formulates policies on appointment, promotion, retention, removal, renewal, rewards and incentives for administrators, faculty and staff (Section 7).
  • The Board approves curricula submitted by the Executive Director (Section 7).
  • The Board approves criteria for selection and admission of students (Section 7).
  • The Board approves the grant of scholarship, stipend and such allowances for students (Section 7).
  • The Board approves the graduation of successful candidates from the various PSHS campuses (Section 7).
  • The Board formulates policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty and staff (Section 7).
  • The Board approves the PSHS System budget and appropriates sums as may be provided by law for the support of the System (Section 7).
  • The Board receives grants (whether cash, land, buildings and improvements thereof), donations, contributions, bequests, gifts, and formulates policies for administration of such resources (Section 7).
  • The Board develops policies for expansion of enrollment in campuses under the System (Section 7).
  • The Board sets policies and criteria to rationalize the establishment of science high schools under the System, including evaluation and approval (Section 7).
  • The Board prepares strategic plans to enhance the System’s capability in developing human resources focused on youth with special talents in science and mathematics (Section 7).

Executive Director and Campus Directors

  • The PSHS System has an Executive Director (ED) appointed by the Chairman, subject to Board approval, with a rank equivalent to a bureau director and a fixed term of six (6) years, renewable for another term (Section 8).
  • The ED coordinates the implementation of Board policies and guidelines and, as a Board member, articulates to the Board mutual concerns of all campuses (Section 8).
  • The ED coordinates curriculum planning activities, oversees research projects on the gifted in science and math, and coordinates publication of research outputs of PSHS teachers, administrators, and students (Section 8).
  • The ED provides legal and technical support to members of the System and coordinates exchange programs with other educational institutions both local and foreign (Section 8).
  • The ED develops and coordinates linkages and networking among PSHS campuses with other institutions and coordinates implementation of the program for identification and selection of scholars (Section 8).
  • The ED provides secretariat services of the Board of Trustees and performs other functions deemed necessary; the ED shall be provided with a staff for efficient and effective implementation (Section 8).
  • Each PSHS campus is headed by a Campus Director (CD) appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the Executive Director based on a search process (Section 9).
  • The CD has a fixed term of six (6) years, renewable for another term at the option of the Board, and the CD is not removed except for cause (Section 9).
  • The CD serves as the administrative and academic head responsible for smooth campus operations (Section 9).
  • The CD may constitute a consultative body as a citizen’s arm to interpret educational needs of the campus service area (Section 9).
  • The incumbent CD may serve the unexpired term as defined in the Act (Section 9).
  • The PSHS System has an Executive Committee composed of the Executive Director and the Campus Directors as members, and it is collegial in character (Section 10).

Funding, implementation rules, and effectivity

  • Initial implementation funding is charged against the current year’s appropriations of the existing PSHS campuses (Section 11).
  • Continued operation funding is included in the annual General Appropriations Act (Section 11).
  • PHP 20,000,000.00 is appropriated for the initial year of operation of the System, in addition to the budget of the existing individual campuses (Section 11).
  • The Board of Trustees must formulate implementing rules and regulations to carry out implementation of the Act (Section 12).
  • If any provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other unaffected provisions continue in full force and effect (Section 13).
  • All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or portions inconsistent with the Act are repealed or modified accordingly (Section 14).
  • The Act takes effect on the day following complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation (Section 15).

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