Upgrading the Quality of Education in the Philippines By Requiring All High School Graduates Seeking Admission to Post-Secondary Degree Programs Necessitating a Minimum of Four Years' Study

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 146

Declaration of Policy (Section 1):
- To maintain the highest quality of education for national development.
- All high school graduates must pass a national entrance examination for admission to any post-secondary academic or professional degree program requiring at least four years of study in any private or public institution of higher learning, whether chartered or unchartered.

Powers and Duties of the Secretary of Education and Culture (Section 2):
- Promote and conduct or cause to be conducted the national entrance examination. (Section 2.1)
- Determine the method, form, content, date, and place(s) of the examination. (Section 2.2)
- Enter into agreements or contracts, and make payments incidental to such agreements or contracts, with qualified persons, institutions, organizations, public agencies, entities, and establishments to carry out the purposes of this Decree. (Section 2.3)
- Determine exemptions from the provisions of this Decree. (Section 2.4)
- Charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of examinations. (Section 2.5)

Rules and Regulations (Section 3):
- The Secretary of Education and Culture shall promulgate necessary rules and regulations within sixty days from the issuance of this Decree.
- The full implementation of the program shall be held for entering freshmen of the school year 1974-1975.
- The rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen days after their publication in the Official Gazette or in one newspaper of national circulation.

Appropriation (Section 4):
- The sum of one million pesos is hereby annually appropriated as part of the appropriation of the Department of Education and Culture out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Effectivity (Section 5):
- This Decree shall take effect immediately.