Over 54,000 Filipino students receive free skills assessments

Over 54,000 Senior High School students in the Technical Vocational Livelihood (SHS-TVL) program have received free National Certification (NC) assessments. This announcement came from the Department of Education (DepEd) on March 18, 2025. The number of students participating in this free assessment program has increased. As of February 28, 2025, a total of 54,694 students have received their certifications. The most popular certifications during this period included Computer Systems Servicing, Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, and Food and Beverage Services. These certifications show the variety of career options available to SHS learners. In June 2024, the DepEd and Tesda signed an agreement to provide free NC programs for SHS-TVL students through Tesda's Regulatory Program. Previously, participation rates were low because fees for assessments ranged from P1,000 to P5,000. The certification rates for graduates from 2019 to 2021 were also low, at just 25.7% and 6.8%. Following consultations with the Second Congressional Commission on Education, it was noted that additional funding was needed to support these assessments. The 2025 General Appropriations Act provided extra funding for the program to help sustain free NC assessments. Tesda General Director Secretary Kiko Benitez encouraged more students to participate in the assessments. He emphasized that skilled workers are highly sought after in today's job market. Benitez urged Senior High School learners to take part in the assessments to obtain their National Certificates.