AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) FOR TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 9163 (National Service Training Program Act of 2001):

Establishes the National Service Training Program (NSTP) as part of the curricula for baccalaureate degree courses and at least two-year technical-vocational courses, as a requisite for graduation. (Section 4)

NSTP Components:
- Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) - made optional and voluntary (Section 4)
- Literacy Training Service - designed to train students as literacy and numeracy teachers (Section 3)
- Civic Welfare Training Service - programs contributing to community welfare and betterment (Section 3)

Policy and Objectives (Section 2):
- Affirms the government's duty to serve and protect citizens, and citizens' responsibility to defend state security
- Promotes civic consciousness, patriotism, nationalism, and youth involvement in public affairs
- Motivates, trains, organizes, and mobilizes youth for military training, literacy, civic welfare, and similar endeavors

Coverage and Duration (Sections 5 and 6):
- Male and female students of baccalaureate degree courses or at least two-year technical-vocational courses in public and private institutions must complete one NSTP component for graduation
- Each component must be undertaken for two semesters or one summer program

Implementation in Educational Institutions (Section 7):
- All higher and technical-vocational institutions must offer at least one NSTP component
- State universities and colleges must offer ROTC and at least one other component
- Private institutions may offer ROTC if they have at least 350 cadet students
- Students may cross-enroll in other schools if their school does not meet the required number of students

Fees, Incentives, and Scholarships (Sections 8 and 9):
- Tuition fees for NSTP components cannot exceed 50% of the current per-unit fee
- DND shall formulate assistance and incentive programs for ROTC students
- Group insurance for health and accident shall be provided for NSTP students
- A Special Scholarship Program for qualified NSTP students shall be created and funded by CHED and TESDA

Management and Oversight (Sections 10 and 11):
- School authorities shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over NSTP components
- CHED and TESDA regional offices shall monitor implementation and ensure compliance with objectives
- A National Service Reserve Corps, composed of non-ROTC graduates, shall be created and may be tapped for literacy and civic welfare activities
- ROTC graduates shall form part of the Citizens' Armed Force (Section 11)

Implementing Rules and Transitory Provisions (Sections 12, 13, and 14):
- DND, CHED, and TESDA shall jointly adopt implementing rules within 60 days, in consultation with other agencies, associations, NGOs, and student organizations (Section 12)
- Students who have not completed Basic ROTC may continue or shift to another NSTP component, with completed Basic ROTC courses counted towards the requirement (Section 13)
- ROTC requirement is suspended for students who have completed all academic units but were not allowed to graduate due to incomplete ROTC (Section 14)

Other Provisions:
- Separability clause (Section 15)
- Amendatory clause, amending relevant sections of previous laws (Section 16)
- Effectivity clause, with implementation commencing in the 2002-2003 school year (Section 17)