Almost 6,000 aspiring teacher candidates of the Department of Education (DepEd) nationwide took the qualifying test for the first-ever fully remote National Qualifications Examinations for School Heads (NQESH).
DepEd, in partnership with ASEAMETRICS, made the first ever fully remote qualifying examinations possible during the NQESH conducted last July 31.
ASEAMETRICS is a leading consulting firm that is at the forefront of delivering integrated, value-adding, technology-based solutions.
The NQESH, also called the Principal’s Test, is considered a major hurdle before aspiring teachers can be appointed to the post of principal in the DepEd hierarchy.
To ensure their safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the test takers took the NQESH in the comfort of their own homes or chosen locations by using their own devices.
Default in the new normal
ASEAMETRICS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Liza Manalo-Mapagu explained that the conduct of in-person examinations continues to be a high-barrier activity that is restrictive to many.
Mapagu said that fully-remote professional examinations “were not pursued in the past” due to various concerns such as slow Internet connectivity, fears of technology breakdown, and lack of security safeguards to guarantee the integrity of the examinations.
However, she noted that all of these are now a thing of the past. “We already have amazing technology and AI-powered platforms available that can significantly improve the way we do assessments in our country and consequently accelerate national transformation,” she added.
The shift to fully-remote examinations was a proactive response to the need to protect the health and well-being of test-takers by eliminating possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus during the examinations.
From a strategic perspective, it is believed that fully-remote and fully-online examinations are expected to become the “default in the new normal” as major advances in testing technology --- specifically remote proctoring, and the increasing need for equity and inclusion in qualifying examinations --- become more prevalent.
Mapagu noted that recently-concluded highly successful NQESH proved that fully-remote examinations can be achieved through a “superior assessment technology platform, proactive collaboration among various stakeholders, and strategic planning and management. “
The successful conduct of the 2022 NQESH was the product of proactive collaboration between DepEd officials across the country, ASEAMETRICS, and other agencies.
HR Avatar is ASEAMETRICS’ assessment solution which is the preferred talent assessment platform being used by many business organizations in the Philippines and globally.
It is renowned for its advanced remote proctoring facility.
HR Avatar’s artificial intelligence system has high sensitivity in detecting behaviors indicative of cheating and other forms of irregularity or fraud.
The AI also triggers warnings and suspends the test based on objective parameters.
Moreover, HR Avatar is highly immersive, which makes test-taking an engaging activity and contributes to building a positive candidate experience.