Fernan Carigma

Over 54,000 Senior High School (SHS) students in the Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track have reportedly received free National Certificates (NCs), enhancing their job prospects and economic opportunities.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency.

The Department of Education (DepEd) showed  that as of February 28, 2025, approximately 54,694 SHS-TVL learners have successfully obtained their NCs through its free assessment program, indicating a significant increase in certification rates.

“In today’s evolving job market, skilled workers have gained the edge. Tech-voc thus offers a viable pathway to gainful employment,” said TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez emphasizing the importance of the program in developing the workforce.

SHS graduates from the TVL track previously struggled to pay assessment fees, ranging from PHP 1,000 to PHP 5,000. This led to low certification rates of 25.7% in 2019-2020 and 6.8% in 2020-2021.

To tackle this issue, the DepEd and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) formed a Joint Memorandum Circular in June 2024, offering free National Certificate assessments to enhance access to industry-recognized qualifications for students.

“Sa tulong ng TESDA, libre na po at mas accessible ang pagkuha ng assessment para sa national certificates ng ating tech-voc learners,” said DepEd Secretary Angara, highlighting the government's commitment to equitable access to skills certification.

The program was made possible through the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and was included in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with a budget of P438.16 million to cover assessment fees and train Department of Education (DepEd) personnel as assessors.

Additional funding has been secured for 2025 to sustain and expand this initiative, ensuring that more students nationwide have continuous access to national competency assessments.

“Certification validates the skills, competencies, and expertise of our learners, giving them a competitive edge both locally and abroad,” DepEd stated, emphasizing how NCs can open doors for higher-paying jobs and overseas employment.

The program was made possible through the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and was included in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with a budget of P438.16 million to cover assessment fees and train Department of Education (DepEd) personnel as assessors.

Additional funding has been secured for 2025 to sustain and expand this initiative, ensuring that more students nationwide have continuous access to national competency assessments.