Digital Skills and Technology Education Act

Senate Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 FEB -5 P2:47 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1754 Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF DIGITAL SKILLS AND RELEVANT TECHNOLOGY COURSES IN THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM EXPLANATORY NOTE This bill seeks to mandate the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to revise the existing educational curricula in basic, tertiary, and technical-vocational education and training (TVET) by incorporating appropriate digital technology courses. The rapid and continuous advancement of digital technology has made it imperative to equip our students and learners with the necessary tools in order for them to cope up and adapt with the digital age. This bill will make them competitive in the job market, both locally and internationally. It will also address the urgency of digital skills and relevant technology courses which is vital for the Philippine economy. As such, the approval of this measure is urgently sought. Camillan CAMILLE A. VILLAR

Sentate Office of the Secretaty TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session FEB -5 P2:47 SENATE 1754 RECEIVED BY: S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF DIGITAL SKILLS AND RELEVANT TECHNOLOGY COURSES IN THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Digital Skills and

Technology Education Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to provide a dynamic,

responsive, and innovation-driven modern educational system that develops a globally recognized workforce capable of meeting the demands of the digital age. The State shall enhance and adapt the educational curriculum to incorporate digital skills and 7 relevant technology courses that will ensure the competitiveness and proficiency of Filipino students.

Sec. 3. Inclusion of Digital Skills and Relevant Technology Courses. - The

10 Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall revise the 12 existing educational curricula in basic, tertiary, and technical-vocational education and training (TVET) by incorporating appropriate technology courses, including but not limited to: a) Coding and programming; b) Digital marketing; c) Data analytics; d) Web and mobile app development;

e) Artificial intelligence and robotics; f) Cybersecurity; g) Digital multimedia and design; and h) Entrepreneurship in the digital age. These courses should be suitable for each educational level and provide adequate depth and expertise in relevant digital skills.

Sec. 4. Learning Facilities, Teacher Training, and Assessment. - The DepEd,

8 CHED, and TESDA shall ensure appropriate learning facilities, equipment, and materials are made available to support the implementation of these courses. They shall also develop and provide continuous training and/or capacity-building programs for teachers, instructors, and trainers to be adequately prepared for teaching the 12 curriculum. An assessment system shall be established to measure the effectiveness and impact of integrating digital skills and relevant technology in the curricula.

Sec. 5. Collaboration with the ICT Industry. - To ensure the relevance of the

courses and to promote job placement, the educational institutions shall collaborate with representatives from the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. This collaboration may include consultations, partnerships, internships, and apprenticeship programs designed to expose students to real-world applications of their skills.

Sec. 6. Funding. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of

21 this Act shall be sourced from the current fiscal year's appropriation of DepEd, CHED, 22 and TESDA under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, CHED, and TESDA

shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be

declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

memoranda, circulars, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,