To boost the employability of senior high school (SHS) learners under the technical-vocational livelihood track (TVL), the 2025 national budget will continue funding free assessments for the issuance of national certifications (NCs), Senator Win Gatchalian said.
The national budget carried a special provision proposed by Gatchalian, making it mandatory for SHS-TVL learners to undergo free assessments.
By requiring free assessments for SHS-TVL learners, the veteran legislator hopes to see improvements in their certification rates.
“Upang mabigyan natin ang mga senior high school learners sa ilalim ng TVL track ng mas mataas na tsansang makakuha ng magandang trabaho, patuloy nating pagsisikapang mabigyan sila ng libreng assessment para sa kanilang national certification.”
“Upang mabigyan natin ang mga senior high school learners sa ilalim ng TVL track ng mas mataas na tsansang makakuha ng magandang trabaho, patuloy nating pagsisikapang mabigyan sila ng libreng assessment para sa kanilang national certification. Maliban sa paglalaan ng pondo, isinulong din natin ang polisiya para maging mandatory sa mga mag-aaral ng TVL sa senior high school ang sumailalim sa assessment,” said the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The seasoned lawmaker pushed the allocation of P438.162 million under the 2024 national budget to fund the free assessment and certification program of SHS-TVL learners.
The funding, however, remains largely unutilized, especially because participation in the program is voluntary.
Out of 1,039 SHS-TVL learners who took the assessment last year, only 926 got certified.
Out of 1,039 SHS-TVL learners who took the assessment last year, only 926 got certified. The 2024 national budget’s original target was to certify 420,967 graduates for Academic Year 2023-2024, but this was lowered to 197,077.
To ensure the continuation of the free assessment and certification for SHS-TVL learners under the 2025 national budget, P275.86 million is allotted for the program on top of the unutilized funds from fiscal year 2024.
The allocation will be lodged under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget.
