Bill in support of gifted students filed
Credit to Author: Javier J. Ismael| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 16:17:36 +0000
SEN. Francis Tolentino has recently filed Senate Bill (SB) 1301 seeking to institutionalize government support for gifted and talented students.
In filing the bill to be known as the “Henyong Kabataan Pinoy Act of 2020,” Tolentino said the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he State shall: establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and other incentives, which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged.”
The senator said government support was a key factor in enabling students to pursue excellence in the fields of math, science, humanities, arts and sports, which would then translate to high-value skills and intellectual capital.
“Gifted and talented learners can become the source of national pride in different fields as they represent the country in competitions and showcases. Once they reach their potential, they may even provide creative solutions to pressing development issues,” he said.
According to Tolentino, there is no institutionalized system at present that aptly caters to the academic demands of gifted and talented learners.
Such students require a different treatment and certain adjustments in educational programs as the lack of challenging learning opportunities may cause stagnation that would inhibit them from fully developing.
Gifted education in the Philippines has been limited to a few science and mathematics programs offered by the Philippine Science High School System under the Department of Science and Technology and music and arts programs offered by the Philippine High School for the Arts under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Elite private schools in urban areas mostly monopolize gifted education across the country and access to these institutions can be difficult for marginalized learners.
SB 1301 aims to provide the a system of acceleration in academic curriculum and student engagement with external mentors from concerned fields of study; scholarships, grants and incentives for gifted and talented learners, as well as sponsorships in local or international competitions and showcases to enhance competitiveness; and fellowship placements in various governmental institutions to address the “brain drain” debacle.
The Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and all other concerned agencies shall formulate and adopt policies geared towards the full development of gifted and talented learners.
Gifted and talented learners who meet the requirements of the selection process shall enjoy scholarship grants.
Primary and secondary education gifted and/or talented learners shall have immediate access to specialized high schools such as the Philippine Science High School and the Philippine High School for the Arts, among others.
In cases wherein the student chooses a private educational institution, scholarship grants including, but not limited to, the cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees shall be subsidized.
In addition to scholarship grants, gifted and talented learners shall be entitled to the following monthly benefits: P5,000-educational expenses allowance; P2,000-medical allowance; Pl,000-transportation allowance; Pl0,000-board and lodging allowance for underprivileged and marginalized learners from far flung areas who will be dislocated from their residences; and subsidies and sponsorships for local and international competitions and showcases for learners representing the Philippines.
The amount of P100 million necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, specifically for the creation of the committee and the initial implementation of this Act, shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the Education department. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.