INAPRUBAHAN na ng House Committee on Higher and Technical Education ang panukala para sa pagbuo ng National College for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Sa virtual hearing ng komite, nagkasundo ang mga miyembro na iendorso na sa plenaryo ang House BIll 8630 ni Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba para sa pagtatayo ng National College for STEM sa New Clark City sa Capas, Tarlac.

Ayon kay Barba, pagsasama-samahin sa STEM College ang mga larangan ng science, engineering, computing technologies, architecture, urban planning at medical sciences.

“In light of the most recent issues that concern certain state universities and other private higher education institutions that were identified as the breeding ground or recruitment arena of left-leaning political groups, the country would be greatly benefited by the establishment of a national college that would offer purely STEM courses,” pahayag ni Barba sa kanyang explanatory note.

Sa ilalim ng bill, kasama sa mga kursong iaalok sa panukalang national college ang mandatory courses para sa patriotism, civic responsibility at social awareness.

Batay rin sa House Bill 8630, ang itatayong national college ay pamamahalaan ng Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“The STEM College is envisioned to rival the prestige of studying and becoming a graduate of the University of the Philippines system,” dagdag pa ni Barba.

Nakapokus din ang STEM College sa pagbuo ng innovative at practical solutions sa real-life problems, pagtuklas ng mga bagong kaalaman hinggil sa kalikasan at kalusugan, at pagpapalakas sa digital transformation sa pamamagitan ng research, education at training.