Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 10648 (Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014)

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Protect and promote the right to quality and accessible education at all levels.
- Establish a financial assistance system for deserving students, especially the underprivileged.
- Democratize access to higher education by institutionalizing a college scholarship program for top graduates of public high schools in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Coverage (Section 3):
- Scholarship grants shall cover all public high school students belonging to the top ten (10) of the graduating class, based on guidelines set by the Department of Education (DepED), who will enroll in SUCs as freshmen.
- Public high schools with more than 500 graduates shall be entitled to one (1) additional scholarship slot for every 500 graduates, given to graduates whose ranks immediately follow the top ten (10).

Admission in SUCs (Section 4):
- Top ten (10) public high school graduates are entitled to the scholarship grant in any SUC of choice upon compliance with the following conditions:
    1. Graduated from a public high school within two (2) years prior to the academic year being applied for (Section 4a).
    2. Complied with the SUC's application requirements (Section 4b).
    3. Rank is reported by the public high school principal or administrator (Section 4c).
    4. Obtained a rating designated by the SUC as the minimum for the scholarship program after taking the entrance examination (Section 4d).
- For the next six (6) years, beginning SY 2015-2016, admission to their SUCs of choice within their region shall be automatic for the top ten (10) graduating students of public high schools (Section 4, proviso).

Limitation in Acceptance by SUCs (Section 5):
- SUCs shall provide scholarships to qualified public high school graduates under this Act, provided they have passed the entrance examination and complied with admission requirements.
- SUCs may limit the number of students admitted under this Act if the number of applicants exceeds by more than 5% the average number of first-time freshmen admitted during the first two (2) academic years preceding the entry of the applicant.
- CHED and SUCs shall establish guidelines in the acceptance of top public high school graduates.

Support to the Program (Section 6):
I. Government Agencies:
    a) CHED:
        1. Review the number of graduating public high school students to ensure SUCs have capacity to absorb them (Section 6Ia1).
        2. Develop a system with SUCs to provide assistance and guidance to scholars in determining the appropriate course and SUC (Section 6Ia2).
        3. Ensure SUCs' compliance with the law (Section 6Ia3).
    b) DepED:
        1. Disseminate information to public high schools on the Program and availability of scholarship slots (Section 6Ib1).
        2. Conduct a census of the number of graduating public high school students in each province for submission to CHED (Section 6Ib2).
        3. Identify the top ten (10) graduates in each public high school, and additional top graduates if the school has more than 500 graduates (Section 6Ib3).
        4. Provide timely reminders about the Program to public high schools towards the second half of the school year (Section 6Ib4).
        5. Ensure compliance by all public high schools (Section 6Ib5).
    c) SUCs:
        1. Provide information about the Program to faculty, staff, and parents (Section 6Ic1).
        2. Inform CHED of their capacity to absorb students applying under the Program (Section 6Ic2).
        3. Provide a summer bridge program if the scholar fails to meet academic admission requirements for the preferred course (Section 6Ic3).
        4. Ensure full assistance is granted to the scholars to avail of the Program (Section 6Ic4).
II. Local Government Units (LGUs) are encouraged to create their own scholarship program (Section 6II).
III. Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) are encouraged to create their own version of the Program (Section 6III).
IV. Private Corporations are encouraged to support the Program under their corporate social responsibility projects (Section 6IV).

Limitations of the Program (Section 7):
- The scholarship grant shall be limited to the full amount of tuition and other school fees for the first year of college.
- Thereafter, the student beneficiary shall be covered by the regular student financial assistance and scholarship programs of CHED, if qualified, subject to CHED guidelines.

Reportorial Requirements of SUCs (Section 8):
- Each SUC shall report annually to CHED on or before a date set by the Commission.
- The report shall include the number of students admitted under the Program, the courses they are enrolled in, their academic standing, and other relevant information to improve the Program.
- CHED shall provide Congress a copy of the report.

Performance Monitoring and Impact Assessment (Section 9):
- CHED shall rigorously evaluate the Program in terms of its impact on desired results and monitor its progress regularly.
- Impact evaluation shall be measured against education outcomes, economic indicators, and indicators for contributions to community service and public good.
- Performance and progress shall be measured with regard to the number of students covered, quality of SUCs enrolled in, and economic status upon enrollment.
- Tracer studies and survey data shall be undertaken to produce credible impact evaluation studies.
- The Program is to be evaluated every five (5) years from the date of its implementation.

Appropriations (Section 10):
- The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the budget of CHED or the concerned SUCs in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 11):
- CHED and DepED, in consultation with relevant stakeholders in higher education, shall issue within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Separability Clause (Section 12):
- If any part or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Repealing Clause (Section 13):
- All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Effectivity Clause (Section 14):
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.