Public schools to teach concept of IP rights

Starting next school year, all fourth year high school students will be taught the concept and value of intellectual property rights in all public schools in the country.

This was announced by National Book Development Board Chairman Dennis T. Gonzalez after the Department of Education, through the Bureau of Secondary Education, acted favorably on Gonzalez’s request to include the analysis of intellectual property, copyright and intellectual property rights in the list of standard competencies for high school economics.

A former DepEd consultant for the revised basic education curriculum, Gonzalez said that, henceforth, new textbooks or new editions of high school economics books from local publishers who participate in the DepEd’s textbook program would have to include this competency.

"This is a positive step towards educating the youth about the significance of intellectual property as a factor of production especially in a globalizing knowledge economy," Gonzalez said.

He added that respect for intellectual property rights encourages creativity, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Thus, adherence to global standards on intellectual property protection has to be inculcated among the Filipino youth.

The DepEd has added items 1.19 and 1.20 to Section G. Produksyon in Mga Pangkalahatan at Tiyak na Kakayahan (General and Specific Competencies) for Ekonomiks, Ikaapat na Taon.