MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 252, May 05, 2000 ]
ESTABLISHING THE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS OVERSEAS, DEFINING ITS COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE, AND FUNCTIONS
WHEREAS, the State recognizes the increasing movement of peoples across international borders as a continuing global phenomenon;
WHEREAS, Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Philippines provides that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all;
WHEREAS, the education of Filipino children at overseas locations has become a primary concern among Filipino migrant workers and other Filipino nationals overseas;
WHEREAS, it is essential to provide expatriate Filipino youth with quality and affordable education that would contribute to shaping their Filipino identity and character, and facilitate the integration of children of Filipinos overseas into the Philippine educational system on their return to the Philippines;
WHEREAS, the establishment, management, and operation of Philippine schools overseas require policy directions, as well as the coordinated support and assistance from various agencies of the government;
WHEREAS, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, hereinafter referred to as DECS, has the primary mandate of formulating, planning, implementing, and coordinating the policies, plans, programs and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal education up to the secondary level, supervising all educational institutions, both public and private, and providing for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the goals of national development;
WHEREAS, the Department of Foreign Affairs, hereinafter referred to as DFA, is mandated in accordance with the Country Team Approach provided for in R.A. 8042, to provide leadership in the protection of Filipino migrant workers and the promotion of their welfare, in particular, and the protection of the dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms of Filipino citizens abroad;
WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Employment, hereinafter referred to as DOLE, is mandated to promote the welfare and interest of Filipino migrant workers, as well as assist in the facilitation of the employment of Filipino professionals necessary to fulfill government thrusts on the development and promotion of the welfare of Filipinos overseas and their dependents;
WHEREAS, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, hereinafter referred to as OWWA, is the agency specifically tasked to protect the interest and promote the well-being of the overseas Filipino workers, including their dependents;
WHEREAS, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, hereinafter referred to as CFO, is mandated to serve as a forum for preserving and enhancing the social, economic and cultural ties of Filipinos overseas with the Philippine motherland, and to develop and implement programs to promote the interests and well-being of Filipino youth overseas;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution, do hereby order:
Section 1. An Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas to be established and be composed of the DECS, DFA, DOLE, OWWA, and CFO as members.
The Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (IAC-PSO) shall be chaired by DECS, and co-chaired by the DFA. The CFO shall serve as the secretariat of the Inter-Agency Committee. DOLE and OWWA shall serve as members of the Committee.
The Inter-Agency Committee may call on other agencies of the government to assist in specific matters concerning Philippine schools or educational / cultural programs overseas.
Section 2. The Inter-Agency Committee shall serve as the policy-making body and a forum for discussion and resolution of issues concerning the establishment, operation, and management of Philippine schools overseas or such type of schools or educational programs overseas. It shall review, formulate and adopt or recommend policies and programs to establish and maintain high standards of educational management, and ensure quality education for Filipino youth overseas consistent with national policy. specifically, the Inter-Agency Committee shall undertake the following:
a. Develop policies and guidelines in connection with the establishment, operation, management, accreditation and regulation of Philippine schools and educational programs overseas;
b. Develop a system for classifying institutions overseas that provide Philippine-based curriculum and instruction;
c. Conduct studies on issues and problem areas affecting the operation of Philippine schools overseas;
d. Provide inputs to the DECS, in the development of standards and systems for monitoring and evaluation of Philippine schools overseas;
e. Hold meetings and consultations on a regular basis to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of policies and programs for Philippine schools overseas;
f. Conduct site visits and ocular inspections of Philippine schools overseas in furtherance of the objectives of this order; and
g. Serve as arbiter in matters regarding Philippine schools overseas which are brought to its attention.
Section 3. The member agencies of the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas shall assume further responsibilities as follows:
a. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS):
1) Review and prescribe guidelines to enable Philippe schools overseas to maintain academic standards, and improve over-all efficiency as well as enable licensing of foreign-owned schools offering Philippine curriculum;
2) Develop a system for classifying institutions overseas that provide Philippine-based curriculum and instruction;
3) Establish qualification standards in the selection, recruitment, appointment and promotion of school personnel;
4) Develop guidelines for the supervision of school personnel and administration of disciplinary standards and procedures;
5) Develop a standard performance appraisal and reporting system on the operation of Philippine schools overseas; and
6) Provide professional, technical and administrative advice as may be requested by Philippine schools overseas.
b. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA):
1) Coordinate with the host governments regarding the establishment of Philippine schools overseas in order to ensure its effective and efficient operation;
2) Disseminate information about the policies and guidelines promulgated by the IAC-PSO and DECS governing the establishment and operation of Philippine schools overseas;
3) Accept applications to establish and operate Philippine schools overseas and endorse the same to DECS through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas for accreditation and / or recognition;
4) Assist DECS in monitoring and determining the level of compliance by the schools on the guidelines prescribed by DECS to ensure effective and efficient management and operation of schools overseas; and
5) Provide advise to various school boards whenever appropriate and necessary to ensure effective and efficient operation of Philippine schools overseas.
c. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE):
1) Assist the IAC and DECS in disseminating the policies and guidelines on the establishment and operation of Philippine schools overseas; and
2) Generate interest among Filipino communities abroad in the establishment and operation of Philippine schools at overseas duty stations and provide assistance as may be needed in the process of establishment.
d.1aшphi1 The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA):
1) Provide advice in the conceptualization and implementation of income-generating community projects / activities to support school operations;
2) Extend or assist in obtaining donations for educational materials / equipment, including assistance in the procurement and shipment of instructional and reading materials as may be needed by the schools; and
3) Extend modest loan packages or subsidies for school projects / requirements, subject to the OWWA Board policies and program thrusts;
4) Assist DOLE and the Philippine Mission in generating interest among overseas Filipino communities in the establishment and operation of Philippine schools; and
5) Assist in disseminating information on the policies and guidelines regarding establishment and operation of Philippine schools overseas;
e. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO):
1) Provide secretariat support to the IAC and keep records of the IAC meetings and agreements;
2) Assist the IAC in disseminating information on the policies and guidelines on the establishment, operation, and management of Philippine schools overseas, and coordinate inter-agency actions in support of this function;
3) Develop researches necessary to review, clarify, and or formulate policies, as may be necessary, to effect better operation, management and representation of schools;
4) Provide technical or other advice as may be necessary or as may be requested by Philippine schools overseas or Philippine communities overseas, pursuant to the objectives of this Executive Order;
5) Develop and maintain an information system on Philippine schools overseas, including relevant educational laws and regulations of host countries; and
6) Extend assistance in obtaining donations as may be needed from public or private sources for educational materials, equipment or school facilities.
Section 4. The Inter-Agency Committee shall provide policy guidance, advice and assistance, and encouragement to Filipino communities overseas for the establishment and operation of Philippine schools or educational programs overseas, as may be deemed necessary or desirable.
Section 5. All expenditures necessary for the implementation of the programs and activities of the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas, including costs of ocular inspections and honoraria, shall be charged against and provided for in the respective budgets of the member agencies.
Section 6. The departments and agencies identified herein shall formulate the necessary guidelines, as well as rules and regulations to effectively implement this order.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of May, 2000.
(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
By the President:
RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
