The National Academy of Sports system was established with the signing of Republic Act No. 11470 on June 9, 2020, by President Rodrigo Duterte. The NAS is a body attached to the Department of Education.[1]
Josephine Joy Reyes was appointed as the NAS system's first executive director in October 2020.[2] The first set of officials for the NAS system had their oath-taking in May 2021.[3]
In July 2021, the NAS launched its first NAS Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable and Talented Student-Athlete Scholars (NASCENT SAS), an annual scholarship program which would scout Filipino student-athletes from across the Philippines.[4]
The NAS' first academic year officially started on September 13, 2021.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will be initially and primarily done virtually.[6][7] The construction of a dedicated campus for the NAS in New Clark City began in early October 2021.[5] It is scheduled to be completed by February 2022.[8]
The dedicated campus for the NAS will have an academic and administration building as well as a multipurpose gymnasium.[9]
Academic program
The NAS intends to provide secondary education program with a curriculum intended to improve its students performance in sports.[10] Natural-born qualified athletes will be granted full scholarship.[1] The NAS has plans to cooperate with the Philippine Sports Commission and would be allowed to hire foreign coaches as part of its staff.[11]Para-athletes will also be accommodated by the school system.[12]
The NAS sources its students through its NAS Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable and Talented Student-Athlete Scholars (NASCENT SAS) scholarship program which scouts Filipino student-athletes from across the Philippines.[4]