August 9, 1999 – DO 84, s. 1999 – Institutionalization of Student Leaders’ Training through the Responsible Students for Active Governance Program (BATANG E.R.A.P)
August 9, 1999
DO 84, s. 1999
Institutionalization of Student Leaders’ Training through the Responsible Students for Active Governance Program (BATANG E.R.A.P)
To:   Undersecretaries/assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Center Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Public and Private Secondary School Principals
1.   Title and Rationale.   In response to the government’s thrust to empower the youth to be significant partners in nation- building, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Philippine Jaycees, Inc. (PJI), in cooperation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), signed a Memorandum of Agreement last May 13, 1999 at the DECS Central Office to undertake a joint program entitled as the Responsible Students for Active Governance Program, also dubbed as “Batang E.R.A.P.” or Estudyanteng Responsable para sa Aktibong Pamamahala.
2.   Policy Statement.   As such and insofar as DECS is concerned, the holistic training and development of student leaders is considered as one of its co- curricular programs and a priority measure in order to guide them in crafting relevant programs, projects and activities that redound to the benefit of the whole studentry. It is, therefore, the policy of this department to institutionalize the training of all student leaders in all secondary schools nationwide through the Batang E.R.A.P. Program.
3.   Objective and Scope.   The Batang E.R.A.P. Program aims to develop the leadership, management and developmental skills of student government leaders of all secondary schools in all the sixteen (16) regions nationwide. The program shall cover all public secondary schools for SY 1999-2000 and all private secondary schools thereafter, pursuant to the recommendations of the Executive Committee of the Program.
4. Participants.    The participants to the training are the presidents of the student governments/councils or, in their absence, the next ranking officer of the student body. There shall be only one slot allotted for the Division Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Schools Superintendent, to serve as facilitator in the training. All the participants shall be expected to re- echo the training to the remaining officers of the student government and other student leaders in the school, and shall organize a Division Student Leadership Training for the purpose.
5.   Modules.   The leadership training program consists of the following training modules, to wit; Vanguard Leaders and Team Building, project Planning and Implementation, Fund Raising, Effective Meetings and Parliamentary Procedures, and Strategic Planning. Other topics to be included shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the Batang E.R.A.P. Program.
6.   Training Proper.   The student leadership training programs shall be conducted on a cluster basis within a region, for which the Philippine Jaycees, Inc. shall organize a region- based training pool that will handle the training course. The DECS and the Philippine Jaycees Inc. shall organize a region- based training pool that will handle the training course. The DECS and the Philippine Jaycees Inc. shall determine the size of participants of each training and, if warranted, may decide to hold it in several batches in some regions.
 7.   Venue.   The training shall be held preferably in the Regional Education Learning Centers (RELC) or in any available school that has the facility to host the training. The DECS regional coordinators, in consultation with the local chapters of the Philippine Jaycees Inc. shall identify other possible venues of the training.
8.   Funding Sources.   For both the regional and division student leadership training, a minimal registration fee shall be collected from each participant to cover the expenses for board and lodging during the training. Expenses for transportation and registration fees of all participants are chargeable against the school organization fund and/or the Special Organization Fund of the Local School Board which allows expenditures for co- curricular activities (section 4e of DECS, DILG and DBM Joint Circular No. 01, s. 1990, dated 14 April 1998.) Likewise, per DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99- 127 dated 28 July 1999, local government units are authorized to charge to their local funds (20% Development Fund, Special education Fund, or the SK fund for participants below 21 years old) the transportation expenses, registration fees and other incidental expenses of all participants within their respective jurisdiction.
The Philippine Jaycees Inc. will assist in the fund sourcing from both government and corporate sponsors in order to provide the necessary training materials, student hand outs and other logistical requirements of the leadership training program.Any additional and/or immediate logistical requirements of the Center for Students and Co- Curricular Affairs in connection with the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program shall be charged against the budget allocations provided in the 1999 General Appropriations Act under Section 1 of the Special Provisions to support the programs and projects for students’ co- curricular affairs in the Office of the Secretary.

Any additional and/or immediate logistical requirements for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program at the regional, division and school levels may be sourced from the respective DECS regional and division offices. To augment funds for the Program, the regional and division coordinators shall be authorized to solicit and/or source funds and receive grants and sponsorships.
9.   Program Secretariat.  The Center for Students and Co- Curricular Affairs (CSCA) shall act as the national secretariat of the Batang E.R.A.P. Program. For queries, interested parties may get in touch with the CSCA at the G/F Mabini Bldg., UL Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, or through telefax nos. 636-36-03/631-84-95.
10.   Regional Coordinators.   At the DECS Regional level, the Kabataan- 2000 Regional Action Officers and Assistant Action Officers are designated as coordinators of the programs. As such, they are expected to render full support to the Philippine Jaycees, Inc. in organizing the training in their respective regions. Likewise, the Action Officers are enjoined to coordinate and monitor the holding of re- echo leadership training programs in the division level.
11.   Division Student Leadership Training.   In order to re- echo the training course provided by the Batang E.R.A.P. program, all DECS Divisions are encouraged to organize a Leadership Training Program or Student Leaders Congresses to develop the leadership and management capabilities of the student leaders in their respective divisions. The training modules and resource speakers of the Philippine Jaycees, Inc. may be availed upon in the conduct of the training. For this purpose, please get in touch with the local chapters of the Philippine Jaycees, Inc.
12.   Report Requirements.   As this program will be another component of the Youth Action for Sustainable Development (YASD), which is a DECS- enrolled program to the Kabataan:2000, participants of both the regional and division leadership training programs shall be reported to the Center for Students and Co- Curricular Affairs for proper reporting to the Kabataan:2000 Chair, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
13.   Support.   All Regional Directors, Schools Superintendents and School principals are enjoined to actively support and assist in the implementation of the Batang E.R.A.P. Program. Likewise, all Schools Superintendents are encouraged to organize and support the implementation of the division student leadership training.
14.   Monitoring and Evaluation.   The Center for Students and Co- Curricular Affairs is assigned to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the leadership training program or Batang E.R.A.P.
15.   Attachments.   Attached for information and immediate reference is the Memorandum of Agreement executed by and between the DECS and the Philippine Jaycees, Inc. Also attached is the composition of the National Organizing Committee and the Executive Committee of the Program. Finally, attached is the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-127 dated 28 July 1999.
16.   Immediate dissemination of this DECS Order to all concerned is enjoined.

 

ANDREW GONZALES, FSC
Secretary

 

Incls.:   As stated
Reference:   None
Allotment: 1—(D.O 50-97)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
                  under the following subjects:

 

POLICY
PROJECTS
STUDENTS
TRAINING PROGRAMS