Module 1
The National Service Training
Program
As we begin or college life, early on, we are mandated to take the subject called
NSTP. But what is it really all about?
In a world where the time it takes to travel, or to bake a potato, or to process a million
calculations shrinks inexorably, only one thing has remained constant: change. It is an
enduring historical force with noticeable variations through time. It is also pervasive and
is taking place in all aspects of society: culture, economy, political system, family, religion
and education.
The underlying concept in change is modernity which is linked to the idea of
progress. New directions and initiatives are therefore, imperative to reshape goals and
reform agenda especially in education. One of the key areas of national life which need
to be pursued relentlessly is education, and since, people live in a time of rapid change
and growth of knowledge, only he who is in a fundamental sense a scholar, that is, a
person who continues to learn and inquire – can hope to keep pace, let alone play the
role of guide.
The country's greatest resource is its people and to educate a child is to save
a person and to guarantee a good national future. To keep up with this change, schools
have initiated innovations in the curriculum not only in the elementary and secondary
levels but in the tertiary level as well. In this context of change brought about by the need
to meet societal demands, National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 was
promulgated.
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
• explain the meaning and aim of NSTP Program
• describe each component under NSTP Program
• assess the role of youths in community service
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Learning Experiences and Self-
Assessment Activities (SAA)
Lesson 1: The National Service Training
Program: An Introduction
Section 13; article II of the 1987 constitution
“The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate
in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and
civic affairs.”
WHAT IS NSTP?
The national service training program, established by virtue of the republic act 9163, is a
compulsory 1-year course for all freshmen in the universities and colleges in the country.
Article 1, section 3 of the RA 9163 states:
“It is a program that aims at enhancing consciousness and defense preparedness in the
youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any
of its three 3 program components. Its various components are specially designed to
enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare.”
Here are the three program components:
ROTC- RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS”
Provides military training to motivate, train,
organize and mobilize students for national defense
preparedness.
The skills being developed among the cadets are
military leadership, basic combat, map reading, military
intelligence, artillery operations, unconventional
warfare, marches, and training.
CWTS- CIVIC WELFARE TRAINING SERVICE
Refers to the activity’s contributory to the
general welfare and betterment of life for the
members of the community or the enhancement of its
facilities, especially those devoted to improving
health, environment, entrepreneurship, safety,
recreation and moral of the citizenry.
Students participate in several community development activities like shelter-
building, tree planting, medical missions, and the likes.
LTS- LITERACY TRAINING SERVICE
Trains the student to teach literacy and
numeracy skills to school children, out-of-school youth
and other segments of society in need of their services
Students hold tutorials and other non-formal education
related activities in public schools and underprivileged communities thereby promoting the
importance of education among grade school and high school students, even adults, who
were not given the chance to study.
All Filipino students are mandated to take NSTP. That is why you and your
classmates are taking it. Well, why not? After all, everyone is a citizen of this country, and
everyone should serve the country. It therefore provides several possibilities or choices for
you as a student. Considering that the population of the country is composed of relatively
young citizens, your choice can be a meaningful experience in the process of nation
building.
And you know what? After you finish either CWTS or LTS, you will become members
of the National Service Reserve Corps. You can be tapped by the state for literacy and
civic welfare activities, especially in times of calamities or disasters. On the other hand,
those who take up ROTC will be a part of the Citizen Armed Force, a reserve force to be
utilized in times of war, rebellion, or invasion. They also aid in relief and rescue during
disaster or calamities.
Interesting, right?
By now, you must have realized that the heart of NSTP is service - service to your
fellowmen. Would you agree with me if I say that service to others should be done with or
without legislations? That it should naturally reign in the heart of everyone? However,
before you can claim to have helped other people improve the quality of their lives, as the
program aims to do, you must begin with yourself as a student, as a son/daughter, as a
citizen.
As the Filipino diplomat and Pulitzer Prize winner Carlos P. Romulo
stated in his book, I walked with heroes: “The reinvigoration of the
national spirit must take place in the grass roots, in every city, town and
barrio in the Philippines, and it must start among our own people… to be
a worthy citizen of the world one must first prove himself to be a good
Filipino. Life takes new meaning when we give ourselves to others.”
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• NSTP established by R.A. 9163 is a program that aims at enhancing
consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the
ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training
• NSTP has three major LTS, CWTS and ROTC
• CWTS- Civic Welfare Training Service refers to the activities contributory to the
general welfare and betterment of life for the members of the community.
• ROTC- Reserve Officers Training Corps provides military training to motivate, train,
organize and mobilize students for national defense preparedness
• LTS- Literacy Training Service trains the student to teach literacy and numeracy
skills to school children, out-of-school youth and other segments of society in need of
their services
• Students who finished CWTS or LTS will become members of the National Service
Reserve Corps.
• Those who take up ROTC will be a part of the Citizen Armed Force, a reserve
force to be utilized in times of war, rebellion, or invasion.
Self-Assessment Activities Answer Sheet
Direction: Write an essay about how you as a NSTP student, youth, and
member of this state contribute to your community. (Not less than 200
words)
Note:
Encoded output format: Arial 12, Normal Margin, Single spacing, Short
bond/letter size, save as PDF, and upload to it our Google Classroom.
Handwritten: Use black ballpen, Normal margin, Short bond paper, scanned or take a photo and
upload to it our Google Classroom.
End of Module Assessment (EMA)
For your assessment, kindly check our Google Classroom
for your short quiz.
Self and Module Check
References
Crisostomo, L. (2017) Benefits and Difficulties of the National
Service Training Program in Rizal Technological University
Coloma, T. and Herrera, M. 2004. Towards a Relevant and Responsive
National Service Training Program in the Schools: Focus on Community
Organization and Development. Mutya Publishing House, Quezon City.
De Chavez, R. G. (2019). National Service Training Program (NSTP)
Literacy Training Service 1. BOOKS ATBP. PUBLISHING CORP.
