History
Like the phoenix rising from the ashes and an eaglet struggling to free itself from
its hell and learning how to fly, the organization of the Student Technologists
and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines, otherwise known as the STEP , is a
product of a collective desire to establish an organization that the then
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) can truly call its own ‑ free
to propagate its own rootstocks of ideals and aspirations, weave its own
net of programs, design its own web page of projects, present its own
power point agenda, and set its own table of rules and regulations.
The YECS
The history of the Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines is of recent making. It was in one of the conferences and trainings conducted for the implementation of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Cooperativism in Schools (YECS) Program, when a review of the different existing organizations in the then Technology and Home Economics (THE), such as the Future Farmers of the Philippines (FFP), Future Homemakers of the Philippines (FHP) and the Future Agricultural Homemakers of the Philippines (FAHP), was made by the Regional TEPP Supervisors and the Center for Students and Co‑Curricular Affairs (CSCA), headed by Executive Director Joey G. Pelaez, to assess the viability of reviving and revitalizing the same, for which DECS Order No. 54, s. 2000 entitled "Revitalizing the FHP, FFP, and FAHP Organizations", dated 1 September 2000 and signed by Secretary Andrew Gonzalez, FSC and DECS Memorandum No. 65, s. 2001 entitled "Significant Matters for the FFP, FAHP and FHP," dated 8 February 2001 and signed by Undersecretary Ramon C. Bacani, was issued.
Recognition
The main consideration for the revival and revitalization was to recognize the value and significance of the various skills and activities of the organizations concerned in enhancing and complementing the learning competencies of the work education and skills training program of the curriculum, more than recognizing the continued existence of the chapter organizations in the school, division and regional levels, although the same national organizations are wanting in legal existence due to its continued non‑operation for years in the national level for which the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued suspension orders of their respective Certificate of Registration, dated 27 October 1988 and 14 August 1990 pursuant to PD 902‑A as amended.
The twin project of revival and revitalization was, however, short‑lived when the various proponents of the project decided to take a bolder move to establish a new national organization to give a new lease and a clean slate on the initiatives being undertaken to strengthen the then THE subject area, which, until then, were bereft of a significant venue for showcasing students' skills and talents, and an organization that will propel and support its initiatives. Thus, was created the Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines or STEP pursuant to DECS Order No. 44, s. 2001, dated 14 August 2001 and signed by Undersecretary Ramon C. Bacani, unifying the FFP, FHP, FAHP and all other existing THE organizations, except the Youth Entrepreneurship and Cooperativism in Schools (YECS), into just one organization, And all schools, public and private, as well as schools with secondary program under the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are mandated to establish the STEP as a co‑curricular organization to enhance life‑long skills and support the learning competencies of the technical education and skills training program in the curriculum.
DepED Support
With this brave front, the STEP, under the auspices of the Center for Students and Co‑Curricular Affairs of the Department of Education, was fully established and the first division and regional skills competitions and conferences were conducted immediately in the same school year following the issuance of the Department Order.
With the leadership of Secretary Edilberto C. de Jesus in the Department of Education and the support of Dr. Fe A. Hidalgo, Undersecretary for Programs and Projects, the conduct of the First STEP National Skills Competition and Conference on January 29 February 1, 2003 at the DepEd Ecotech Center, Cebu City with DepEd Region VII, in cooperation with the DepEd Division of Cebu City and Abellana National School, as host has finally become a reality with the issuance of DepEd Memorandum No. 288, s. 2002 dated 13 December 2002.
Timing with the BEC
With the new Basic Education Curriculum, the STEP is recognized as a laboratory of the Teknolohiya, Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (TEPP) component of the MAKABAYAN subject. The STEP organization is taking its own shape. And true to its name, it has achieved a lot ‑ one STEP at a time.
