Duterte declares Nov 17 National Students’ Day

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has declared November 17 of every year as National Students’ Day to recognize the contribution of student activism to Philippine democracy.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11369 declaring National Students’ Day, which would coincide with International Students’ Day.

“The State recognizes the value of inculcating love of country and social responsibility among the youth and supports the observance of International Students’ Day,” the law read.

International Students’ Day was spearheaded by the International Students’ Council in 1941 to commemorate the execution of nine Czechoslovakian students who fought against the Nazi occupation.

An annual program of activities for the observance of National Students’ Day shall be prepared and implemented with the National Youth Commission (NYC) serving as the lead agency.

The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education were mandated to support the NYC in all efforts to facilitate and promote related activities to all public and private schools.

It also encourages schools, colleges and universities to extend their full support for exercises and activities launched by the students during the observance of National Students’ Day.

The new law, signed on August 8 and released to the media on Wednesday, takes effect 15 days from its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least one newspaper of general circulation.