EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 252
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 252 -
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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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 Philippine schools overseas
to maintain academic standards, and improve overall 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
advice 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. 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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.
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Since 19.07.98.