As entry to larger schooling stays a privilege on this nation, the passage of Republic Act No. 12124 provides much less lucky Filipinos a extra inclusive pathway towards a university diploma.
In a nutshell, the brand new regulation permits people to earn educational credit primarily based on their realized abilities, acknowledging that information is acquired not solely inside the 4 partitions of a classroom however the world at massive. Years of arduous work, hands-on coaching, and lived expertise could be simply as invaluable as studying textbooks or listening to lectures.
By formalizing this different route, the federal government is not only opening doorways for expert staff, but additionally addressing deep-rooted inequities which have restricted alternatives for these unable to afford conventional education.
On March 3, President Marcos signed the Expanded Tertiary Schooling Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) right into a regulation, which might permit Filipinos to earn a university diploma by means of “nontraditional” means.
Beneath the regulation, the ETEEAP will consider an individual’s previous studying and work expertise—whether or not from faculty, coaching, or real-life jobs to find out whether or not these could be credited towards a university diploma or particular graduate program.
Tutorial requirements
The regulation requires that candidates be Filipino residents, whether or not residing within the Philippines or overseas, to qualify. They need to even be a minimum of 23 years outdated and have accomplished a secondary faculty program to have the ability to apply for equivalency and accreditation.
On the helm of this system is the Fee on Greater Schooling (CHEd), which shall be liable for authorizing faculties and universities to supply levels underneath this system, and setting the requirements for evaluating an individual’s abilities, information, and expertise. It could actually additionally resolve whether or not to approve or cancel a faculty’s permission to implement this system.
The fee shall additionally train oversight of how colleges are implementing the ETEEAP, collect enter from totally different teams by means of conferences, and set honest charges for accreditation that may assist fund this system.
In accordance with the fee, the CHEd should conduct “rigorous evaluations” to evaluate the candidates’ skilled information and abilities, making certain they meet the tutorial requirements required for diploma equivalency.
‘Different pathways’
The Second Congressional Fee on Schooling (EdCom II), a bicameral physique tasked with the periodic assessment of the nation’s schooling system, praised the federal government for recognizing the “different pathways” in schooling. “We perceive how essential a university diploma is for our fellow Filipinos,” mentioned Sen. Joel Villanueva, a co-chairperson of EdCom II and writer of RA 12124. He added: “We wish to be certain that [Filipinos] can reap the benefits of their work experiences, achievements, and abilities to earn a bachelor’s diploma with out going by means of conventional education strategies.”
Baguio Metropolis Rep. Mark Go, one other EdCom II co-chairperson, mentioned the regulation would deal with “long-standing instructional disparities” by offering working people with alternatives to “uplift their lives in addition to their households.”
“This revolutionary strategy bridges the hole between skilled expertise and educational achievement, enabling candidates to finish their levels extra effectively than by means of conventional instructional routes,” the EdCom mentioned.
Essential mechanism
The Philippines has lengthy struggled with underemployment and job mismatch, the place extremely succesful staff stay caught in low-paying positions for lack of formal instructional credentials. RA 12124 offers a vital mechanism for addressing this disconnect, giving Filipinos with enough work expertise and technical know-how the prospect to get a diploma that places them on a stage enjoying area with those that acquired their levels within the conventional manner.
Nonetheless, for this program to be really efficient, correct implementation and oversight will likely be important.
The CHEd, for one, should be certain that equivalency assessments are clear, honest, and free from abuse. For one more, applicant assessments have to be designed to make sure that diploma holders underneath ETEEAP can meet the tutorial {and professional} requirements anticipated of their respective disciplines.
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Equally essential is elevating public consciousness about this system. Many Filipinos who stand to profit from this initiative ought to be made absolutely conscious of its existence in addition to the processes concerned in making use of. The success of RA 12124 can also be hinged on shifting public notion—on recognizing that studying occurs in many alternative methods.
Passing the regulation is simply step one. In the end, its execution will decide whether or not it may really ship on its promise of a extra egalitarian and opportunity-rich instructional panorama. If applied effectively, this measure has the potential to vary the lives of many, proving that long-held view that schooling—irrespective of the place or the way it was obtained—is a gateway to a greater future.