New law allows one to earn a college degree using work experience

The law recently signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will now allow those who have yet to finish their undergraduate degrees to use their work experience to earn a college diploma. 

Angelyn Perez had a child when she was a freshman business management student. She was not able to finish her college degree as she had started working for her family. 

Perez had 10 years of working experience in sales and five years as a barangay health worker. She is now currently working as a secretary. 

Despite her years of working experience, Perez believes she could have had more opportunities if only she had finished college. 

“Sobrang laki ng epekto, kasi yung mga gusto ko talagang applyan na trabaho, di ko siya ma-achieve. Kasi hinahanap college grad, kailangan at least two to three year-course bago ka makapag-apply,” she said in Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday. 

(There are jobs that I wanted to apply for, but it’s impossible for me because they are looking for college graduates and they require you to have finished at least a two to three-year course.) 

But Perez could be one of those who will benefit from the newly enacted Republic Act 12124, or the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act. 

The ETEEAP would identify, assess, validate, and assign equivalent undergraduate-level and special graduate programs of prior learning from formal, non-formal, and informal learning systems and relevant work experiences to qualified individuals for the grant of appropriate academic degrees.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will serve as the lead agency in implementing ETEEAP.

“This is important because your work will be evaluated and credited as units in your degree program,” said CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera III. 

The program is open to Filipinos with high school diplomas aged 23 years and above, and with at least five years of work experience related to the college degree to be pursued. 

Interested applicants may go to ETEAAP-authorized schools in CHED’s list. 

“Once they apply they should already bring with them the certificates of their work experience, etc,” De Vera added. 

If additional units or subjects need to be taken to complete a degree, they can be taken through online, night, or weekend classes. 

In fact, the ETEAAP was not new as an executive order about the program was already issued in 1996. But having a law on the said program will strengthen its implementation with funds to be provided. 

From 1999 to October 2024, the ETEAAP has produced 41, 286 graduates. 

The government now seeks to double the number of colleges and universities offering ETEEAP. 

With the new law, Perez is excited to finish her college studies soon. 

“Mas gusto ko yung may picture ka siyempre na graduate ka (It’s nice to have your graduation picture),” she said. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News