By Ma. Teresa Montemayor with reports from Andrea Pascual, OJT/PNA
MANILA — College dropouts who want to take a business degree after running a profitable business can have their years of practical experience assessed and credited equivalent to course requirements as soon as the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) law becomes fully functional.
The PQF law reinforces and strengthens the recognition of knowledge and skills acquired outside the formal education system. It expands the system of pathways, equivalencies and credit transfers that recognize the different ways Filipinos can earn knowledge, skills and competencies throughout their lifetime.
In a press briefing, DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan said the implementing rules and regulations of the PQF have been approved and concerned agencies will harmonize the qualification levels across basic, technical-vocational and higher education.
“The PQF was signed into law by President Duterte on Jan. 16, 2018 and Section 14 of the law directed DepEd, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development, Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Regulations Committee to issue the IRR which was approved on Jan. 15, 2019,” he said.
Malaluan said while the PQF National Coordinating Council preserved the declaration of policy, powers and functions of the existing PQF, they strengthened the provisions for stakeholder participation.
“It [PQF] is key in transforming the language of education from diplomas to qualifications in terms of knowledge skills, values and ability to apply them, acquired by learners and workers not only through formal but also non-formal and informal learning modalities,” he said, adding that the NCC will develop mechanisms to validate and accredit learnings acquired in such manner.
Malaluan said the PQF could also bridge the comparability of Philippine qualifications to those adopted in other countries.
Researches show that ASEAN countries have or are in the process of developing their national qualifications frameworks (NQF). Singapore’s NQF, for example, focuses on vocational education and was developed in collaboration with its various industries nationwide.
In an earlier interview, Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) executive director Love Basillote said a PQF would provide clear education thrusts that are contextualized to industry requirements, and consistent with national development goals.
Founded in 2006, PBEd is an advocacy group which conducts an annual assessment of the Philippine educational system to ensure it provides quality learning in the context of global economy.
