Fayette
C. Riñen
CEBU, May 06 (PIA) --
Cebu was the venue of the third and final leg of the public consultation on the
proposed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on RA 10650 otherwise known
as the Open Distance Learning Act.
Over 150 participants
throughout the Visayas region with a few coming from Mindanao attended the
public consultation this morning.
The attendees were
representatives of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), private colleges and
universities, private sector, and other government agencies.
RA 10650, signed into
law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on December 9, 2014 seeks to
institutionalize Open Distance Learning (ODL) in public and private higher
education institutions, post-secondary learning and vocational institutions.
Dr. Amelia Biglete,
director IV of the Office of Programs and Standards Development of CHED,
discussed the salient points of the law which include qualified ODL students
can access scholarship, grants-in-aid and loans from the government or
government-administered funding sources as well as can take licensure
examination administered by the Professional Regulations Commission in the
practice of profession.
“The University of the
Philippines Open University or UPOU has a significant role to play particularly
in sharing its expertise to CHED and TESDA in matters related to the ODL
especially in the design of prototype programs,” said Biglete.
Under the law, CHED
and TESDA must formulate, promulgate, disseminate standard policies and
guidelines in the effective implementation of the ODL in the country. Both
agencies are also responsible in implementing a system of quality control of
the ODL programs.
The law also grants
tax exemptions to individuals and organizations that donate, contribute,
bequest and grant, in cash, materials and services for the promotion of ODL in
partnership with higher education institutions.
All inputs form
the participants during the open forum will be consolidated with the other
recommendations in the previous two public consultations in Luzon and Mindanao
for finalization of the IRR.
The finalization of
the IRR will have to be approved by the heads of the three agencies of CHED,
TESDA and the UPOU.
“After this final
consultation, we will come up with quality assurance guidelines and we will
coordinate with the UPOU to help us craft the guidelines,” said TESDA Director
Elpidio Mamaril Jr.
UPOU Chancellor Dr.
Grace Javier Alfonso said “the ODL system will definitely enhance our education
system,” adding that capacity and capability building programs will be done for
the teachers and others involved in the ODL programs. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)