Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (Gatchalian's Facebook page)

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the retention of the P80 million scholarship fund for child development workers (CDWs) under the 2025 national budget was an important step toward enhancing their professional capabilities.

In a statement on Monday, Jan. 6, Gatchalian revealed that he proposed the allocation under the Promotion, Development, and Implementation of Quality Technical Education and Skills Development Programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Under his special provision, the scholarship program shall prioritize incumbent CDWs whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma or lower.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pondong inilaan natin para sa scholarship ng mga child development workers, masusuportahan natin ang kanilang upskilling at reskilling,” the senator said.

(Through the funds we set aside for the scholarship of child development workers, we can help support their upskilling and reskilling.)

Gatchalian said TESDA and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council shall jointly develop guidelines to implement the scholarship program.

Citing government data, he mentioned that of the 68,080 CDWs nationwide, only 11,414 completed secondary education.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) estimates that the scholarship fund can help around 2,854 CDWs in boosting their professional capabilities.

“Mahalagang hakbang ito upang matulungan natin ang ating mga CDWs na maging epektibo sa pagtupad ng kanilang mga tungkulin,” said Gatchalian, Co-Chairperson of the EDCOM II. 

(This is an important step to help our CDWs become more effective in carrying out their duties.)

Gatchalian noted that the scholarship program for CDWs aligned with his Senate Bill (SB) No. 2575, or the proposed Early Childhood Care and Development Alignment Act.

The bill, which seeks to achieve universal access to early child education, also pursues the upskilling and reskilling of CDWs. 

Under the proposed measure, incumbent CDWs shall complete mandatory upskilling and reskilling training programs on early childhood education.

The CDWs should also pass a certification from the TESDA, which shall provide free assessment and certification.