Tech-voc grads to earn college units in TESDA, CHED credit system

April 25, 2023

Trainees and graduates of technical vocational (tech-voc) courses will soon find it easier to finish a college degree.

This after the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recently issued a joint memorandum circular allowing tech-voc students and graduates to earn college units.

Last April 14, TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz and CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III signed Joint CHED-TESDA Memorandum Circular No. 01 which seeks to implement the Philippine Credit Transfer System (PCTS) that facilitates the seamless movement of students and finishers from a vocational course to a college degree program.  

Through this system, TVET students and graduates can earn college degree credits for subjects they have already taken, and will not have to take the same subjects again should they decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

In his message, DG Cruz emphasized that the PCTS further reinforces the importance of skills mastery and life-long learning, and is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to prioritize the upskilling and reskilling of the Philippine workforce and increase their employability.

“This is also in response to the need to upskill learners into a highly competitive and innovative workforce, armed with 21st Century skills. Likewise, it gives our workers better chances for permanency and further professional growth,” the TESDA Chief said.

“In addition, as one of the initiatives of TESDA to the PCTS, recognition of prior learning makes TVET more inclusive for all clients with academic achievement, work exposures, and life experiences that are aligned with the competencies contained in various TVET programs,” added DG Cruz.

The PCTS is in line with the enactment of Republic Acts No. 10968 and 10647 or the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act and Ladderized Education Act, respectively.

The implementation of the PCTS is governed by the principles of quality assurance, outcomes-based, institutional autonomy and academic freedom, learner-centeredness, fairness and transparency, promotes cooperation and supports lifelong learning.

The PCTS benefits learners by providing the framework to maximize the awarding of credit for learning outcomes that students have previously achieved. It will also benefit the education sector, the government, and the community by reducing inefficiencies in delivering education and training for learners.

In order to ensure the quality of the institutions and the programs for which the credit arrangements in the PCTS apply, TESDA and CHED, together with experts, shall determine the equivalencies to be employed in the PCTS at the national level.

On the other hand, higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical vocational institutions shall ensure the adoption and quality implementation of the approved credit arrangements within their institutions.