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DepEd Research Management Guidelines

The DepEd Research Management Guidelines (RMG) provide guidance in the management and conduct of research initiatives at the national, regional, schools division, and school levels to further promote and strengthen the culture of research in basic education. This policy also covers instructions for eligible DepEd employees in availing of research funds.

March 20, 2017

DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2017

DepEd Research Management Guidelines

To:

Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools Heads
All Others Concerned

  1. In support of the Department’s policy development process, research agenda, and policy and program development and implementation, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to promote and strengthen the culture of research in basic education. DepEd hereby establishes the Research Management Guidelines (RMG) to provide guidance in managing research initiatives in the national, regional, schools division, and school levels. The enclosed policy also improves support mechanisms for research such as funding, partnerships, and capacity building.
  2. This policy which is built on the gains in evidence-based decision-making from various education reforms or initiatives shall strengthen the culture of research in the Department. In addition, it improves the fund-sourcing mechanisms, and reinforces the link of research to education processes through research dissemination, utilization, and advocacy.
  3. This issuance repeals DepEd Order (DO) No. 43, s. 2015 and DO 4, s. 2016 and other issuances, rules and regulations, and provisions which are inconsistent with this policy. These provisions shall be rescinded or modified accordingly.
  4. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

ATTY. ALBERTO T. MUYOT
Undersecretary
Officer-in-Charge

Research Management Guidelines

Rationale

The Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 (RA 9155) mandates that the Department of Education enact policies and mechanisms through which the delivery of quality basic education may be continuously improved. Chapter 1, Section 7 (5) includes among the responsibilities of DepEd across all governance levels the undertaking of “educational research and studies” that will serve as one of the bases for necessary reforms and policy development.

To promote an environment of evidence-based decision-making, DepEd has made strides in instituting research and its utilization in policy and program development. DO No. 13, s. 2015 established a systematic policy development process in the Department, promoting evidence-based policy formulation supported by research studies. To provide financial support to the conduct of research in the field, DO No. 43, s. 2015 and DO No. 4, s. 2016 set guidelines on the use of the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF). This policy outlined a clear framework for the implementation of a grant-awarding facility that had been underutilized since the issuance of DO No. 24, s. 2010 which originally made such grants available. To put focus on these research initiatives, DO No. 39, s. 2016 promulgated the Basic Education Research Agenda, which makes known the research priorities of the Department across four themes (Teaching and Learning, Child Protection, Human Resource Development, and Governance) and three cross-cutting themes (Gender and Development, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Inclusive Education).

Implementation of the said policies brought about a renewed vigor in the conduct of research, solidifying the Department’s thrust towards evidence-informed policies and programs. While there are marked changes in the perception of research, implementation challenges also surfaced from regular feedback and the conduct of policy review of the BERF Guidelines. Apart from issues arising from availing of and implementing the BERF, concerns primarily centered on improving research management at every governance level.

As we strengthen the culture of research in the Department, this policy seeks to build on the gains from the abovementioned reforms by establishing a framework for the management of research initiatives at all levels of governance. The said framework intends to improve the grants management process for BERF and other possible fund sources, and reinforces the link of research to education processes through research dissemination, utilization, and advocacy.

Scope of the Policy

The Research Management Guidelines (RMG) provide guidance in the management and conduct of research initiatives at the national, regional, schools division, and school levels to further promote and strengthen the culture of research in basic education. This policy also covers instructions for eligible DepEd employees in availing of research funds.

Definition of Terms

For clarity and consistency, the following frequently used terms and phrases in this document will be construed as follows:

1. Action Research – is a process of systematic, reflective inquiry to improve educational practices or resolve problems in any operating unit (i.e. school, classroom, office)

2. Basic Education Research Fund (BERF) – is a grant provided by the Department of Education to support education research in aid of evidence based policy formulation.

3. Conflict of interest – refers to situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise a researcher or research manager’s professional judgment in evaluating, conducting, or reporting research.

4. Cost Sharing – refers to funding a portion of the estimated through another fund source

5. Culture of Research – is the regular exercise of systematic inquiry to improve program and policy development and implementation

6. Education Research – is the “scientific field of study that examines education and learning processes and the human attributes, interactions, organization, and institutions that shape educational outcomes”2

7. Fraud – is a deliberate form of deception intended to result in financial or personal gain

8. Grant – an amount provided by DepEd or any organization/government agency for the purpose of conducting research

9. Grantee – refers to an individual or group who has received a research grant and is conducting a research project

10. Lead Proponent – refers to an individual who will directly coordinate with the secretariat on administrative and financial matters of the approved research

11. Plagiarism – is intellectual theft, i.e. presenting and/or claiming another’s work as your own without appropriate recognition by way of referencing and citation.

12. Proponent/s – refers to an individual or group that submitted a proposal for a research grant

13. Referencing – is citing the authors or documents used in the research proposal and research report.

14. Research Manager/s – is an individual/office that oversees research initiatives (i.e. call for proposals, evaluation, tracking of progress) at their respective governance levels

15. Research Proposal – is a document which provides the details of a proposed study (i.e. research purpose and methodology, estimated cost, work plan)

Policy Statement

DepEd hereby establishes the Research Management Guidelines to provide guidance on the research management processes, and the roles and responsibilities of research managers in the central, regional, schools division offices, and schools. This policy also further improves the mechanisms in availing of and utilizing available resources for research, as well as related initiatives with external stakeholders.

Research Management Guidelines

Research Committees

Research Committees will be set up at each governance level to provide guidance on research directions, particularly in aligning such initiatives with the national and local Basic Education Research Agenda. The Committees will spearhead the call for proposals, evaluation, approval, and grant of available funds for research proposals, partnerships, and dissemination of results. Below are the composition, roles, and responsibilities of the committees per governance level.

National Research Committee (NRC)

The National Research Committee (NRC), established through DepEd Order 43, s. 2015, will continue to assume oversight responsibilities over research management at the Central Office. Specific responsibilities of the NRC are the following:

1. Provide guidance in the development, review, evaluation, and updating of the Basic Education Research Agenda;

2. Approve research proposals from bureaus, services, and those endorsed by the Regional Research Committee (RRCS) which cover at least two regions;

3. Approve proposed research initiatives and research-related activities in the Department;

4. Forge partnerships with academic and research institutions on education research initiatives and projects;

5. Resolve emerging issues on the management and conduct of education research;

6. Recommend the release of research funds based on monitoring and evaluation reports, including but not limited to the BERF;

7. Ensure that cost estimates fall under the existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations; and

8. Provide feedback to the Executive Committee (ExeCom) on research initiatives.

The composition of the NRC will be as follows:

Chair: Undersecretary for Planning and Field Operations

Co-Chair: Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction

Members:

Director, Planning Service
Director, Bureau of Education Assessment
Director, Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development
Director, National Educators Academy of the Philippines
Director, Finance Service – Budgeting and Monitoring

For invitation: Director of concerned bureau or service depending on the research topic

Secretariat:

Policy Research and Development Division, Planning Service (PS-PRD)

To facilitate the evaluation and approval of research proposals, Committee members may designate permanent alternates to represent them during NRC meetings, in case of unavailability.

The NRC Secretariat will deliver the following:

1. Organize, coordinate, and document meetings of the committee;

2. Conduct initial screening of submitted proposals for compliance with submission guidelines;

3. Aid NRC members in recommending proposals for approval as per the criteria and scoring template (Annex 4) ;

4. Liaise with academic and research institutions in the conduct of the research;

5. Provide technical assistance to researchers on the conduct of their studies; and

6. Prepare complete staff work in support of the committees’ functions as needed.

Regional Research Committee (RRC)

The Regional Research Committee (RRC), established through DepEd Order 43, s. 2015, will continue to manage research initiatives at the regional level.

The RRC has the following roles and responsibilities:

1. Provide directions on research initiatives through the national and local Basic Education Research Agenda, and other identified priority research areas in the region;

2. Evaluate and approve research proposals and other related research initiatives from the region and schools divisions, in particular, proposals to be funded under BERF or any other fund source lodged in the region;

3. Confirm school research proposals endorsed by the Schools Division Research Committee (SDRC) unless the committee finds major issue(s) in the SDRC-approved research proposals (i.e. finance/cost estimates, among others)

4. Forge partnerships with academic and research institutions on education research initiatives and projects;

5. Resolve emerging issues on the management and conduct of research;

6. Recommend release of regional research funds;

7. Provide feedback to the Regional Executive Committee on approved, ongoing, and completed research;

8. Ensure that cost estimates fall under the existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations; and

9. Endorse appropriate research proposals for consideration as national level proposals to the NRC.

The RRC will be composed of the following:

Chair: Assistant Regional Director (ARD)

Co-Chair: Chief of Policy, Planning, and Research Division (PPRD)

Adviser: Regional Director

Members:

Chief of Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD)
Chief of Education Support Services Division (ESSD)
Chief of Human Resource Development Division (HRDD)
Chief of Quality Assurance Division (QAD)
Chief of Field Technical Assistance Division (FTAD)
Chief of Finance Division

By invitation: Legal officer and/or focal person of concerned functional division I learning area I program

Secretariat: Policy, Planning, and Research Division (PPRD)

To facilitate the evaluation and approval of research proposals, Committee members may designate permanent alternates to represent them during RRC meetings, in case of unavailability. In addition, the region may form a Technical Working Committee (TWC) which will conduct initial technical evaluation of proposals prior to the RRC evaluation.

The RRC Secretariat will deliver the following:

1. Organize, facilitate, and document meetings of the Committee;

2. Conduct initial screening of submitted proposals for compliance with submission guidelines;

3. Aid RRC members in recommending proposals for approval as per the criteria and scoring template provided in Annex 4;

4. Liaise with academic and research institutions in the conduct of the research;

5. Provide technical assistance to researchers on the conduct of their studies;

6. Conduct periodic monitoring on research initiatives in the schools divisions, and schools within the region;

7. Prepare periodic reports on accomplishments related to regional research initiatives and fund utilization; and

8. Prepare complete staff work in support of the Committee’s functions as needed.

Schools Division Research Committee (SDRC)

The Schools Division Research Committee (SDRC) will assume the responsibilities of research management at the schools division level. The SDRC will have the following roles and responsibilities:

1. Provide directions on research initiatives through the national and local Basic Education Research Agenda, and other identified priority research areas in the division;

2. Evaluate and approve research proposals and other related research initiatives from the schools and community learning centers (CLCs) to be funded under BERF;

3. Evaluate and approve research proposals and other related research initiatives within the schools division to be funded by other fund sources;

4. Forge partnerships with academic and research institutions, government agencies, and other DepEd offices on education research initiatives and projects;

5. Prepare and submit reports to the RRC on all research initiatives conducted in the division from all fund sources;

6. Resolve emerging issues on the management and conduct of research

7. Ensure that cost estimates fall under the existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations; and

8. Endorse approved school level proposals to the Regional Office for confirmation and release of funds under BERF.

The composition of the SDRC is as follows:

Chair: Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS)

Co-Chairs: Chief, School Governance and Operations Division Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division Adviser: Schools Division Superintendent (SDS)

Members: SEPS, Planning and Research CID Representative/s based on requirement for the evaluation

Representative from Finance Unit

By invitation: Focal person of concerned division / learning area / section I program Secretariat: School Operations and Governance Division (SGOD)

To facilitate the evaluation and approval of research proposals, Committee members may designate permanent alternates to represent them during SDRC meetings, in case of unavailability.

The SDRC Secretariat will deliver the following:

1. Organize, coordinate, and document meetings of the Committee;

2. Conduct initial screening of submitted proposals for compliance with submission guidelines;

3. Aid SDRC members in recommending proposals for approval as per the criteria and scoring template provided in Annex 4;

4. Liaise with academic and research institutions government agencies, and other DepEd offices in the conduct of the research;

5. Provide technical assistance to researchers on the conduct of their studies;

6. Conduct periodic monitoring on research initiatives in schools and community learning centers (CLCs) within the division;

7. Prepare periodic report on accomplishments related to division research initiatives; and

8. Prepare complete staff work in support of the Committee’s functions as needed.

Research Management Cycle

Call for Research Proposals

The National and Regional Research Committees will spearhead the periodic call for research proposals in their respective areas at least once a year, or as deemed necessary by the committee and/or the funding source. Calls for proposals will be made in view of maximizing the efficiency of the process, and use of the funds. The SDRC, in coordination with the RRC, will assist in wide dissemination of the call for proposals in schools. The Secretariat at all levels will conduct dissemination and capacity building activities on the preparation of research proposals and funding opportunities.

Proponents will be given one (1) month after the posting of call for proposals to submit the intended study. The research proposal will be submitted in either hard or electronic copies to the appropriate research committee. The requirements are as follows:

1. Application form and endorsement of immediate supervisor of the proponent (Annex 1);

2. Research proposal (Annex 2); and

3. Anti-plagiarism and absence of conflict of interest declaration (Annex 3)

Evaluation of Proposals

a. Initial Screening

The respective Secretariats will conduct initial screening of submitted proposals against the eligibility requirements. Proposals falling under the following conditions will not be further evaluated, and will immediately be returned, with technical inputs, to the proponents:

1. Incomplete documentary requirements as prescribed during the call for proposals;

2. Conflict of interest in personal and professional aspects, which may influence the impartiality of the parties concerned, whether the proponent or the research manager;

3. Non-conformance to research ethics;

4. Exceeding the maximum amount of research grant with no provision for cost-sharing;

5. Non-alignment of research topic with the national and local Basic Education Research Agenda; and

6. Cost estimates not within the existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations

The Secretariat will duly inform the proponent of the results from the initial screening. The proponents who passed the initial screening shall then be endorsed to the respective research committees for a more rigorous evaluation.

For researches that will involve Indigenous Peoples (IP) learners, Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs), Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs), and Indigenous Learning Systems (ILSs), the Secretariat shall conduct a discussion with the recognized community representatives or elders in IPEd implementation from the community/ies to be involved in the research to validate the proposal’s compliance with the ethical requirements discussed in Section VI.C of this document.

b. Committee Evaluation

The secretariat shall prepare the completed staff work for the research committees prior to the evaluation of the proposals.

The research committee shall evaluate the proposals using the criteria and scoring template as attached in Annex 4. At any point in the evaluation process, the committee may contact the proponent for clarifications through the most cost-efficient means.

For researches that will involve IP learners, ICCs, IKSPs, and ILSs, the committee may contact recognized community representatives or elders from the communities to be involved in the research to clarify any concerns related to the conduct of the research.

To qualify for approval, the proponent must have a minimum score of 70%. The research committee shall provide comments, if any, to the proposals, for consideration of the proponent prior to the implementation of the research.

The RRC may endorse a research proposal to the NRC if the study covers more than one region, and is relevant to policy formulation at the national level.

iii. Notification of Results

Once the research committee has evaluated the proposal, the secretariat will send a notification letter of the results (Annex 5) to the proponent.

For approved proposals, the secretariat will conduct an orientation to brief the proponents on the requirements, roles, and responsibilities of both the researcher and the concerned committees.

For disapproved proposals, proponents are encouraged to resubmit their proposals for consideration once they incorporate the comments from the previous evaluation. Technical assistance may be provided by the secretariat.

iv. Progress Monitoring

The Secretariat shall track the progress of all approved researches based on the approved work plan, and provide technical assistance as needed. As research managers, the NRC, RRC, and SDRC will conduct random visits to the locations of research, and discuss with the researchers the status of their studies.

School heads and Division ALS coordinators will track the progress of approved researches in their respective schools and CLCs.

v. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance will be provided by the research managers to the researchers based on the feedback from the progress monitoring. PRD-PS, PPRD-RO, and the SGOD will assist the researchers, if needed or as requested, at any point during the research implementation.

vi. Provision on Changes and Extension

Request for Changes in the Research – Any deviation from the original and approved research proposal must immediately be communicated to the Secretariat.

For modifications on the research design of the same research topic, the researcher must write a letter to the relevant research committee detailing the changes made. The research committee will evaluate the changes for their approval. The approved research topic cannot be changed by the researcher at any point during the study.

Cost implications due to changes will not be granted with additional DepEd funds, unless another funding source is available for this purpose. Cost sharing arrangements, if applicable, should be explicitly indicated in the proposal (Annex 1).

Request for Extension – In the event that the grantee sees the need for an extension, a letter of request for extension with justification must be submitted to the chair of the relevant research committee. Valid reasons for extension such as, but not limited to, illness of the researcher, occurrence of disasters, and other extenuating circumstances will be decided by the Committee. The request for extension will be approved, provided there will be no additional cost to DepEd. The researcher will be allowed only one request for extension. The duration of the extension will be assessed and decided by the Research Committee. Granted extensions will not exceed one (1) year.

In cases where unforeseen circumstances force the cessation of the implementation of the research, the researcher shall write a letter to the Research Committee with justification and documentary support.

vii. Submission and Acceptance

Completed research (Annex 6) must be submitted to the research committees. The Secretariat will conduct technical evaluation to determine the acceptability of the output. Submitted outputs with additional requirements, comments, and recommendations will be returned for revision. This will be outside the research work plan.

In addition, for accountability and reproducibility of research, researchers will submit an executive data set in an accessible file format (i.e. Microsoft Excel file). Final approved outputs will be submitted in soft (PDF copy) and hard copies to the committee secretariats.

viii. Dissemination and Utilization

Dissemination and utilization of research results are crucial in the achievement of learning outcomes, and improve teaching-learning and governance processes in schools, SDOs, ROs, and CO. Research managers, in collaboration with the researchers, will take measures to ensure the dissemination and utilization of research results in various settings across governance levels. Further, researchers will disseminate and discuss their research results and recommendations in the area/office/governance level where the study was conducted, preferably attended by the respondents. Research managers will provide a venue to actively disseminate results from completed research studies, and encourage everyone to analyze, consider, and incorporate these results in their practices.

The region and division may organize research conferences, research forums, and policy forums to gather education researchers to share their research findings, gather new inputs and research ideas, and discuss policy options based on research results. Further, research managers may also publish research journals and bulletins for wider dissemination, and as a potential archival mechanism for completed research.

In addition, the region and division may utilize completed researches to improve learning outcomes and governance processes in their respective areas. Evidence should be heavily used in the development of policies, frameworks, programs, and projects; strategic, operational, and mid-term plans; training programs; and instructional materials, to mention a few governance strategies.

With full support of school heads, teachers will disseminate and utilize their research through existing mechanisms such as, but not limited to, the following venues:

  • Learning Action Cells (LACs). The LAC sessions may be maximized by sharing the results of ongoing and/or completed research. These may serve as input for teachers in their respective teaching-learning strategies.
  • In-Service Training (INSET). The training design may include discussions on research results and how these can be utilized.
  • School Governing Council (SGC). Research results and proposed actions can be presented during school planning and monitoring activities.
  • Enhanced School Improvement Plan (eSIP) / Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) – Research results may be incorporated in the SIP. School planning activities may bring forth possible research topics. These may also be plotted as research initiatives in the SIP and AIP.
  • School Report Card (SRC). Interventions made as a result of action results may be included in the SRC.

ix. Archival

PRD-PS, in close collaboration with PPRD-RO and SGOD, will set up mechanisms to archive all completed education researches, along with other relevant documents, such as the data sets used during the study.

x. Monitoring and Evaluation

Apart from the progress monitoring of the researches being conducted, PRD-PS, PPRD-RO, and the SGOD shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of the entire research management cycle within their respective areas to continuously improve the management of research. Feedback will be communicated through M&E platforms in their respective governance levels.

Fund Sources

i. Basic Education Research Fund (BERF)

This fund will support education research initiatives in the Department such as, but not limited to, funding for approved education research proposals of DepEd employees, capacity building, research dissemination and utilization, policy development, technical support, and monitoring and evaluation.

1. Allocation

All regions will be provided with funds to support the approved proposals and conduct of related activities. BERF will be managed by the PPRD-RO.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of the allocation will be exclusively used to fund research proposals from the region, schools division, and schools. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) will be used for research-related expenses such as, but not limited to, capacity building, research dissemination activities, and representation fees for research conferences, among others.

Depending on fund availability, additional funds will be released to regions which have utilized eighty percent (80%) of the initial allocation, as reflected in the region’s utilization report.

2. Scope and Allocation of Research Proposals

Research proposals must be in line with the Basic Education Research Agenda (DO 39, s. 2016). Other research topics not covered in the agenda but are deemed a priority in the region, schools division, or school may also be considered. The table below outlines the maximum amount of grants per research proposal, depending on the scope of the research.

SCOPEMAXIMUM AMOUNTDURATION OF RESEARCH
NationalResearch that is nationwide in scope or covering at least two regionsNot more than PhP
500,000.00 per research
Maximum of 1 year
RegionResearch that is region-wide or covering at least two divisions/ division-wide.Not more than PhP 150,000.00 per research Maximum of 1 year
DivisionResearch that is division-wide, districtwide, or covering at least two schools.Not more than PhP 150,000.00 per researchMaximum of 1 year
Schools / CLCs(Action) Research that is classroom based or school/CLC-wide in scope.Not more than PhP 30,000.00 per researchMaximum of 6 months

Personnel from the school, schools division, and region may submit a research proposal that is nationwide in scope, provided that the conduct of research will not interfere with their regular functions in their respective schools and offices.

Offices may also submit action research proposals which aim to improve office operations. The amount and duration of these researches will be similar to that of school/CLC-level researches.

3. Eligibility of Proponents

All regular / permanent employees, teaching, teaching-related, and non-teaching personnel of the DepEd National Office, regions, schools divisions, and schools are eligible to avail of the research fund, provided they meet the following eligibility criteria:

a. proponents are regular I permanent teaching or nonteaching personnel of the Department of Education;

b. proponent/s have no pending administrative case;

c. proponent/s have not yet availed of the grant for the given year; and

d. there is a maximum of three (3) research team members for group proposals;

While members are treated equally in the proposal, lead proponents will be appointed to liaise with the secretariat on administrative and financial matters.

4. Eligible and Non-Eligible Activities and Expenditures

The research committees shall ensure that the expenses detailed in the research proposal are appropriate and necessary in the conduct of research. Measures must be taken to ensure that the funds are maximized so more proposals will be covered.

For BERF grantees, the research fund will be utilized for the following activities:

a. Expenses related to the implementation of the approved research proposals which include, but are not limited to, the following:

Supplies and materials;

Domestic travel expenses;

Communication expenses;

Reproduction, printing, and binding costs;

Food and other incurred expenses during conduct of research (surveys, FGDs); and

Other expenses related to the conduct of research not listed in the non-eligible expenditures

b. Expenses related to research dissemination

Specifically, the research fund will not be used for the following expenses:

a. Equipment;

b. Software;

c. Salary, overtime pay or honorarium for resource persons, statisticians, and other service providers

d. Utilities;

e. Office rental; and

f. All overseas travel and all items not included in the approved research proposal

Research funds to be managed by the Central and Regional Office may also be utilized for the following:

a. Capacity building of the evaluators of research proposals and fund managers from the national, regional, and schools division offices;

b. Development of database system for education research;

c. Representation fees of research grantees for research conferences;

d. Progress and results monitoring of research implementation;

e. Development and publication of research journals and bulletins of DepEd-initiated research;

f. Other initiatives and activities related to research which are deemed appropriate by the National and Regional Research Committees;

Use of the 25% research support fund lodged at the RO should prioritize capacity-building and local dissemination of research results.

5. Release and Liquidation of Funds

BERF is output-based. The release and liquidation of funds are dependent on the submission and acceptance of the grantee’s deliverables. Once the deliverables are accepted by the research committees and submitted to the Budget and Accounting Divisions, the approved amount will be released to the grantee. The Secretariat will inform the grantee when the funds are released. The allotted amount will be released to the grantee through the most cost-efficient means.

Submission of the deliverables as indicated in the table below will serve as liquidation documents.

ScopeTranchePercentageDeliverables and Documentary Attachments
NationalFirst Tranche (Mobilization Fund)40%Inception Report

Data collection instruments

Certificate of Acceptance for the deliverables

Copy of MOA
Second Tranche40%Data collection activities

Data analysis

Initial findings

Certificate of Acceptance for the deliverables

Copy of MOA
Last Tranche20%Final Report

Certificate of Acceptance from the National or Regional Research Committees

Copy of MOA
ScopeTranchePercentageDeliverables
Region/DivisionFirst Tranche (Mobilization Fund)40%Inception Report or Work Plan

Data collection instruments

Certificate of Acceptance for the deliverables

Copy of MOA
Second Tranche40% Data collection activities

Data analysis

Initial findings

Certificate of Acceptance for the deliverables

Copy of MOA
Last Tranche20%Final Report

Certificate of Acceptance from the National or Regional Research Committees

Copy of MOA
ScopeTranchePercentageDeliverables
Schools/ CLCsFirst Tranche80%Work Plan

Certificate of Acceptance for the deliverables

Copy of MOA
Last Tranche20%Final Report

Certificate of Acceptance from the National or Regional Research Committees

Copy of MOA

Tranches only apply for proposals costing PhP5,000.00 and above. The approved full amount will be released to the grantee upon submission of the Work Plan and the MOA.

6. Submission of Deliverables

To facilitate the release of funds, grantee/s will submit their deliverables to the secretariat as indicated in their approved work plan. The secretariat will review the submitted documents, and send completed staff work to the concerned research committee for the issuance of the letter of acceptance.

ii. OTHER FUND SOURCES

Research initiatives using other fund sources will follow the research management procedures in evaluating and approving research proposals. This will follow the usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Other fund sources include, but are not limited to, local funds and the Special Education Fund (SEF), as stipulated in Section 4.1.4.1 of the Joint Circular (JC) No. 1, s. 2017 of DepEd, DBM, and DILG.

For fund sources outside the SEF and BERF, special concerns and provisions may arise depending on the stipulations in the agreement between DepEd and the funding institution.

Special Provisions

A. EXECUTION OF MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

To ensure accountability, all researches receiving funding from DepEd or other sources must execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which contains the conditions and details of the grant as agreed between the grantee and the funding source/s. Annex 7 is a sample template of the MOA. The costs for travel for such appearances may be charged to the approved budget for the research proposal.

The research must commence within five working days upon the signing of the MOA.

B. OWNERSHIP AND AUTHORSHIP OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

The grantee/s will be the sole author of the research. However, the study funded under BERF will be co-owned by the author/s and DepEd. Written permission from the National and Regional Research Committees is required if the research will be presented in research conferences, forums, and other related events, or be published in research journals and bulletins. Also, in these presentations or publications, the researchers must duly acknowledge the funding source/s for the study.

C. RESEARCH ETHICS

Conducting research often requires interaction with various people and communities. Education research in particular heavily focuses on learners and their immediate environment. Thus, researchers shall observe the highest ethical standards. Similarly, research managers shall uphold ethical principles in evaluating and implementing research proposals to protect our learners and communities. This includes ensuring confidentiality in handling data of respondents and providing consent forms where necessary. Further, anyone found to have violated research ethics will be blacklisted from availing of any other research grant mechanism in the Department.

In support of this, the Department will establish a Research Ethics Committee (REC) and issue a corresponding policy on evaluating compliance to research ethics. This is to ensure protection of respondents to basic education research.

In the interim, researchers will refer to the DepEd Child Protection Policy (DO 40, s. 2012) as reference for interacting with learners. Further, for researches that will involve IP learners, ICCs, IKSPs, and ILSs, researchers will adhere to the rights-based approach and the principles of inclusion, participation, and empowerment as stipulated in the National IPEd Policy Framework (DO No. 62, s. 2011). Should the research directly discuss or focus on the IP community’s IKSPs and ILS with information directly generated from the community, the study shall properly recognize the community/ies where the research was undertaken as co-author and co-owner of the research. Permission from the concerned community, through its recognized community representatives or elders involved in IPEd implementation, needs to be sought if the research will be presented in research conferences, forums, and other related events, or be published in research journals and bulletins. A copy of the study and subsequent publications featuring the study shall be given to the said community representatives.

The principles of free, prior and informed consent, and the recognition and protection of communal intellectual and cultural property rights (Annex 9) will also be meaningfully considered and adhered to throughout the research process.

D. PLAGIARISM AND FRAUD

The research proponents are required to observe the highest standard of ethics during the preparation and implementation of the research proposals. They will ensure that the research proposal and final report submitted are original works. Appropriate referencing and citation must be included in the research proposal and final report.

The proponent is required to submit an anti-plagiarism declaration (Annex 2) attesting to the originality of the research study. Any act of fraud and plagiarism will be dealt with accordingly. Further, anyone found to have committed plagiarism will be blacklisted from availing of any other research grant mechanism in the Department.

E. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The letter of approval and MOA will include a provision that, in the event that the research proponent/s fail to complete and submit the deliverables, the research proponent/s will be required to return the total amount of the research grant s/he received during the course of the implementation.

VII. RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS

To engage external stakeholders in promoting and strengthening the culture of research in the Department, the NRC, RRC, and SDRC will collaborate with research and academic institutions on various research initiatives. It is ensured that mutual benefit and reinforced collaboration shall arise from these partnerships.

A. POTENTIAL RESEARCH PARTNERS

The NRC, RRC, and SDRC may partner with the following institutions:

i. State universities/colleges and other academic institutions – Universities and colleges which would want to work with the Department may be tapped for potential collaborations and research activities. Advantages of these partnerships include access of the institution to our researchers, as well as a deep understanding of the context of the region or the division by the academic institution.

ii. Development partners – Most development partners with focus on the basic education sector have research arms that are willing to assist DepEd researchers. Tapping them to cooperate on research initiatives will give researchers different perspectives based on experiences from the field and the development sector.

iii. Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) – NGOs and CSOs in the basic education sector are also involved in research initiatives to appropriately target their interventions in schools. DepEd may harvest relevant practices and experiences upon entering into a partnership with them.

iv. Other Government Agencies / Local Government Units (LGUs) – Some government agencies and LGUs have established mechanisms and facilities in promoting research within their sector. Forging partnerships with these agencies may help develop best practices on research management and implementation.

v. Partnerships with Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs). The National IPEd Policy Framework (DO 62, s. 2011) encourages ICCs to take the lead in doing research that will inform and guide IPEd implementation (e.g., researches on IKSPs, ILSs, community history).

B. AREAS FOR PARTNERSHIPS

i. Capacity building – DepEd may partner with institutions in providing technical assistance and capacity-building activities for research committees, education managers, school heads, teachers, and other DepEd personnel. This may be done through formal training or through apprenticeship in the research projects of the institution. DepEd may also share best practices with partner institutions.

ii. Resource sharing – DepEd and the partner institution may share resources from their respective databases which may help DepEd researchers in completing their research. Research partners may also utilize the researches owned by the Department.

iii. Research grants and funding – Partnerships may also explore the possibility of providing grants for DepEd researchers. This will expand the opportunities of DepEd to conduct research with funding support from external sources.

iv. Research collaboration – DepEd and partner institutions may embark on research projects together, with team members coming from both DepEd and the partner institution. This will also serve as capacity building for DepEd personnel. Further, cost sharing may be explored in the conduct of research by both institutions.

C. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH PARTNERS

To officially engage the identified partner institutions, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be drafted detailing the terms and conditions of the partnerships, as well as the roles and responsibilities of involved parties. The DepEd Secretary, Regional Director, and the School Divisions’ Superintendent, as head of their respective levels, will be the signatory of the MOA, together with the head of the partner institution.

Complete staff work will be prepared by the secretariats of the research committees to ensure that the concerned parties are committed to achieving the goals of the partnership.

Monitoring and Evaluation

PS-PRD, PPRD-RO in close collaboration with the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) in the Regional Office, and the SGOD at the division level will conduct structured monitoring of the research management processes and research initiatives at the national, regional, division, and school level. They will provide feedback for the improvement of the whole policy.

Further, PRD-PS with PPRD-RO will conduct an annual review of the effectiveness and efficiency of the policy in achieving its objectives. After three (3) years, PRD-PS will conduct a policy review for the revision of this policy. Feedback from the M&E will be reported during the Program Implementation Review (PIR).

Effectivity Transitory Provisions

All current available funds will be under the Research Management Guidelines. Under the Program Expenditure Classification (PrExC), BERF will be sourced from the Policy and Research Program (PRP) of the Department beginning 2018. Immediate dissemination and compliance with this Order is directed.

References

DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2015, Establishment of a Policy Development Process at the Department of Education

DepEd Order No. 43, s. 2015, Revised Guidelines for the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF)

DepEd Order No. 4, s. 2016, Amendment to DepEd Order No. 43, s. 2015

DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2016, Adoption of the Basic Education Research Agenda

DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, DepEd Child Protection Policy

DepEd Order No. 62, s. 2011, Adopting the National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Education Policy Framework

American Educational Research Association, retrieved from http://www.aera.net/About-AERA/What-is-Education-Research

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K (2011). Research methods in education (7th ed.) New York, NY: Routledge

Office of Ethics and Compliance, University of California, San Francisco, retrieved from http://coi.ucsf.edu/

DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2017

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Mark Anthony Llego

Mark Anthony Llego, from the Philippines, has significantly influenced the teaching profession by enabling thousands of teachers nationwide to access essential information and exchange ideas. His contributions have enhanced their instructional and supervisory abilities. Moreover, his articles on teaching have reached international audiences and have been featured on highly regarded educational websites in the United States.

2 thoughts on “DepEd Research Management Guidelines”

  1. Good afternoon po Sir Mark, can you give example of action research po, and steps in conducting action research according to the Department of Education po…please..thank you in advance po???? Godbless

    Reply

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