Senator Sherwin Gatchalian says that with the signing of the 2024 national budget, the free assessment for national certification of Grade 12 learners taking the Technical-Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) track is assured.

Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the final amount of P438.16 million was allotted for the assessment of 420,967 Grade 12 learners taking the TVL track for the issuance of a national certification, which is expected to boost these learners’ employability.

The final amount of P50.012 million, on the other hand, was allotted for the expansion of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) pool of assessors. The budget covers more than 11,000 additional assessors, which could triple TESDA’s current assessment capacity from 7,551 to around 19,000 by the end of 2024.

“Sa susunod na taon, matitiyak na nating mas mataas ang tsansang makakakuha ng magandang trabaho ang ating mga senior high school graduates na nasa ilalim ng TVL track. Ito’y dahil popondohan na ng ating pamahalaan ang kanilang assessment at certification. Titiyakin pa rin nating magagamit nang mabuti ang pondong ito lalo na’t ang ating mga mag-aaral sa senior high school ang makikinabang dito (Next year, we can be sure that the chance to get better jobs will be higher for our senior high school graduates under the TVL track. This is because the government will fund their assessment and certification. We will ensure that this fund will be used properly especially that senior high school graduates will benefit from this),” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

The hearing on the Batang Magaling Act (Senate Bill No. 2367) revealed that less than 30 percent of senior high school graduates were certified. This is because the government does not fund the assessment and certification of these learners, many of whom cannot afford the cost of undergoing assessment.

Analysis from Gatchalian’s office has revealed that 50 percent of senior high school graduates from the TVL track are employed in elementary occupations, the lowest level of occupational category in terms of skills requirement. These jobs include street vendors, cleaners, domestic helpers, car and window washers, and street sweepers.

To implement the certification program, the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA shall develop guidelines for the program’s operationalization and implementation.