To:   Bureau/Center/Regional Directors
Bureau/Regional Textbook Evaluation Coordinators
Schools Superintendents
All others concerned

1.   This DECS Order pertains to the training of additional textbook evaluators from various regions to assist in the evaluation of materials submitted by private publishers under the Third Textbook Call. Materials submitted under this Textbook call which pass evaluation by DECS shall be eligible for purchase and use in public schools starting SY2000-2001.

2.   New textbook evaluators must be identified and trained in preparation for the evaluation of materials which were received from private publishers this month. A five- day live- in training at the Regional Education Learning Center (RELC) – NCR, Concepcion, Marikina (tel. nos. 942-4148 to 49). The number and breakdown of participants to be trained is contained in Annex 1 of this DECS Order. Participants are expected to register and be present at the training venue before 12 noon of August 23. The training shall be conducted by senior officials from the DECS Instructional Materials Council Secretariat and other concerned DECS Central office Bureaus.

3.   DECS Regional offices thru their respective Textbook Evaluation Coordinators are hereby directed to immediately identify and tap qualified individuals from the public and private sectors to serve as evaluators for this textbook call (see Annex 2 for criteria and qualifications of evaluators).

4.   Necessary and allowable travel expenses for the training of evaluators from DECS field offices/schools shall be chargeable against their respective Office’s budget for INSET or other allowable source. Evaluators from the private sector, however, will have to fund their own travel expenses to attend these trainings. DECS Regional and Division Offices are also enjoined to finance the services of substitute teacher who may be needed to take the place of DECS Textbook Evaluators in the latter’s schools during the training. All other expenses such as for supplies, board and lodging of all participants, travel expenses and honoraria for trainors and facilitators shall be chargeable against the DECS Central Office trust fund for textbook evaluation.

5.   Participants to the August 23 to 27 training shall be expected to also participate in one (1) team evaluation workshop to be held either from September 20 to October 1 or October 11 to October 22, 1999 (at a venue to be announced during the training) depending on the subject area and grade/year level in which they shall serve as evaluators. Travel and other expenses of participants to these team evaluation workshops shall be funded from the DECSCO trust fund for the textbook evaluation. The DECS policy prohibiting teachers to be pulled out from their classes during schooldays shall not apply to teachers who serve as textbook evaluators provided that necessary arrangements are made to ensure continuation of classes even in their absence.

6.   The DECS IMCS shall communicate directly with the textbook Evaluation Coordinators (TECs) of the various regions re. final preparations and arrangements for the trainings. For any query or clarification on this matter, please contact the DECS IMCS Evaluation and Training Division (Attention: Ms. Lulu Pilor or Ms. Daisy Santos) at tel. nos. 922-9982 or telefax 920-1894.

7.   For immediate dissemination and guidance of all concerned.

Incls.: As stated
Reference: DECS Order No. 26, s. 1999
Allotment: 1—(D.O. 50-97)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
under the following subjects:TEXTBOOKS
TRAINING PROGRAMS