CHED plans enhanced NSTP to produce better youths
Published Dec 14, 2019 12:00 am
By Merlinda Hernando-Malipot
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is eyeing the rollout of an “enhanced” National Service Training Program (NSTP) which is designed to produce students with civic consciousness, defense preparedness and will act as first responders during national emergencies.
Commission on Higher Education Logo (PhCHED Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Issuing a statement, CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said that the commission is partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to roll out an “improved and strengthened” NSTP.
De Vera, along with TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña and DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recently signed an agreement at the Department of National Defense to create an NSTP-Technical Working Group (TWG). The said TWG will review the existing implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 9163 or the “National Service Training Program Act of 2001.”
Reviewing NSTP
CHED said that in the past 17 years, the NSTP program was not “closely monitored” and was not “uniformly implemented” across higher education institutions (HEIs).
“This resulted in the high turn-over of NSTP coordinators, concerns about the safety and security of the students during the community immersion, and weak sanctions for HEIs that violated the law and its IRR,” De Vera noted.
De Vera also cited that in many areas, NSTP “students did not have insurance coverage during their out of school activities, and many HEIs did not offer the full range of NSTP options” - particularly Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).
Given this, De Vera underscored the need to review the NSTP in consideration with the recent developments such as the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” and its effect on the NSTP fund.
De Vera also noted that in the review of the NSTP, the shift in academic calendar as well as the impact of the K to 12 Basic Education Program should be discussed. Likewise, De Vera noted that the “current national security concerns” also makes the review and revision of the IRR an “urgent imperative.”
De Vera said that CHED will soon issue a Memorandum Order (CMO) on the NSTP guidelines and standards for common and enhanced module for non-military programs under the NSTP.
The need to work together
Given the issues that need to be addressed in implementing the NSTP, De Vera noted that there is a need for CHED, DND and TESDA to “work together” and to “review what has happened in the past years.”
Reviewing the NSTP, De Vera said, will help the concerned agencies to “craft new guidelines” that can be issued to all HEIs. The new set of guidelines, he added will help to realize the objective of the NSTP law which is to produce an active National Service Reserve Corps that will “serve the nation.”
De Vera said that CHED, DND and TESDA will work together to review the ROTC Program of Instruction, recasting of the non-military NSTP components particularly the Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service to be Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)-oriented to operationalize the National Service Reserve Corps as a complement to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserves.
“The Commission is serious in making the NSTP supportive to the initiatives of the government and the needs of our country,” De Vera said. “The draft CMO is now being subjected to zonal consultation,” he ended.
Commission on Higher Education Logo (PhCHED Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Issuing a statement, CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said that the commission is partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to roll out an “improved and strengthened” NSTP.
De Vera, along with TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña and DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recently signed an agreement at the Department of National Defense to create an NSTP-Technical Working Group (TWG). The said TWG will review the existing implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 9163 or the “National Service Training Program Act of 2001.”
Reviewing NSTP
CHED said that in the past 17 years, the NSTP program was not “closely monitored” and was not “uniformly implemented” across higher education institutions (HEIs).
“This resulted in the high turn-over of NSTP coordinators, concerns about the safety and security of the students during the community immersion, and weak sanctions for HEIs that violated the law and its IRR,” De Vera noted.
De Vera also cited that in many areas, NSTP “students did not have insurance coverage during their out of school activities, and many HEIs did not offer the full range of NSTP options” - particularly Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).
Given this, De Vera underscored the need to review the NSTP in consideration with the recent developments such as the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” and its effect on the NSTP fund.
De Vera also noted that in the review of the NSTP, the shift in academic calendar as well as the impact of the K to 12 Basic Education Program should be discussed. Likewise, De Vera noted that the “current national security concerns” also makes the review and revision of the IRR an “urgent imperative.”
De Vera said that CHED will soon issue a Memorandum Order (CMO) on the NSTP guidelines and standards for common and enhanced module for non-military programs under the NSTP.
The need to work together
Given the issues that need to be addressed in implementing the NSTP, De Vera noted that there is a need for CHED, DND and TESDA to “work together” and to “review what has happened in the past years.”
Reviewing the NSTP, De Vera said, will help the concerned agencies to “craft new guidelines” that can be issued to all HEIs. The new set of guidelines, he added will help to realize the objective of the NSTP law which is to produce an active National Service Reserve Corps that will “serve the nation.”
De Vera said that CHED, DND and TESDA will work together to review the ROTC Program of Instruction, recasting of the non-military NSTP components particularly the Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service to be Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)-oriented to operationalize the National Service Reserve Corps as a complement to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserves.
“The Commission is serious in making the NSTP supportive to the initiatives of the government and the needs of our country,” De Vera said. “The draft CMO is now being subjected to zonal consultation,” he ended.