MANILA – Senior high school (SHS) students enrolled in the Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track will begin receiving free assessments for government certification in the upcoming school year 2024-2025, according to an announcement made by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Monday.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz III revealed that preparations are underway for the free certification program. This initiative follows the signing of twin joint memorandum circulars (JMCs) on May 10 by TESDA, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“We are coordinating with DepEd, DOLE, and CHED to create a dashboard that will facilitate students’ access to the mandatory certification and assessment,” Bertiz stated.
The proposed dashboard aims to streamline the identification of graduating students needing assessment, with DepEd assisting in locating the districts from which these students hail. Bertiz highlighted the necessity of establishing an assessment center and training additional assessors to support the program.
“We have been allocated a budget to expand and develop more trainers and assessors to accommodate the large number of SHS graduates next year and those graduating this year,” he explained.
The implementation of these JMCs aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to address the skills mismatch and employment gap among SHS graduates. The JMCs specifically aim to fund the assessments required for obtaining National Certificates I and II.
In addition to this, TESDA’s Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TVET) embedment into all SHS tracks was also signed and is set to commence in the school year 2025-2026. This strategic move is expected to further enhance the employability and skillsets of SHS graduates, ensuring they are better prepared for the workforce.
By providing these free assessments, the government aims to equip students with the necessary certifications to improve their employment prospects and bridge the gap between education and industry requirements.
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