Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10647)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10647 is the "Ladderized Education Act of 2014."
The main policy objective is to institutionalize the ladderized interface between technical-vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education to create a seamless and borderless education system, open career and educational progression pathways, empower student choices on entry and exit, and provide job platforms at every educational exit.
Articulation is a process allowing students to transition smoothly from one course, program, or educational level to the next without duplicating learning, ensuring that no student repeats content for which credit has been earned, with multiple entry and exit points enabling credit transfers between TVET and higher education.
Credit transfer is the conversion of academic credits earned from different educational modalities, ensuring mobility of students by allowing institutions to recognize and credit units completed elsewhere.
It refers to TVET competencies or qualifications incorporated within a higher education or bachelor's degree program that lead to job platforms, allowing students to earn full TVET qualifications even if they exit the ladderized program early to seek employment.
The PQF-NCC is composed of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), with DepED as chair.
The key objectives are: (a) Adoption of national standards and levels for educational outcomes; (b) Supporting the development of pathways and equivalencies for easier transitions between education sectors and labor market; (c) Alignment with international qualifications frameworks to facilitate mobility of workers.
CHED, TESDA, and DepED are mandated to closely coordinate and effectively implement the unified Philippine Qualifications Framework for ladderized education.
CHED, TESDA, and DepED, in consultation with industry representatives, DOLE, DA, DTI, DOST, NEDA, PRC, and other related agencies, identify priority disciplines based on labor market needs and in line with the Philippine Development Plan.
The Act mandates that CHED, TESDA, and DepED allocate budgets to provide scholarships, grants, and loans to deserving students and workers availing the ladderized education system.
No. The Act expressly states that it does not restrict academic freedom of higher education institutions, which retain the right to assess qualifications and set admission criteria transparently and objectively.
'Job platforms' are points in the ladderized curriculum where a student acquires enough skills and knowledge to seek and obtain employment.
They are directed to devise systems, procedures, and mechanisms, update guidelines as necessary, encourage participation with incentives, and assign personnel at regional and provincial levels to implement, monitor, and evaluate the LEP nationwide.
The HEI shall be subject to administrative sanctions imposed by the CHED for failing to submit the required curriculum for monitoring and compliance.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.