170K SHS learners get TESDA certification as gov't shoulders NCII fees

Over 170,000 Senior High School (SHS) students under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track have received free TESDA National Certificate II (NCII) certifications, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday.

At the launch of the Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP) 2025–2035, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the government’s move to cover the certification cost—previously pegged at P1,500 per student—is a “major breakthrough” for ensuring work-readiness among K–12 graduates.

“Libre po ito. Dati na kailangan bayaran ng P1,500 kada estudyante kaya maraming hindi nakakuha ng kanilang certification. Ngayon, sagot na po ng gobyerno,” Angara said.

(It’s free. This used to cost P1,500 per student, which stopped many from getting certified. Now, the government shoulders it.)

TESDA’s NCII certification is recognized by local and international employers and qualifies holders for various skilled jobs in fields such as electronics, hospitality, and construction. 

“At sa ilalim ng bagong patakaran ng (under the new regulations of the) Civil Service Commission, SHS or Senior High School graduates are now eligible to apply for 1st level government jobs,” he said. 

This development aligns with one of the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which emphasized improving the employability of K–12 graduates.

DepEd is also embedding Dual TVET (DVET) qualifications into the SHS curriculum, allowing students to gain work experience while studying. This is part of a broader effort to “blur the line” between schooling and employment, Angara said, and to address concerns over whether the K–12 program has succeeded in preparing students for the job market.

The QBEDP 2025–2035 also lays out plans for improving learning outcomes, modernizing classrooms, and enhancing teacher support—recognizing that education is not just a right but an engine for inclusive growth.

On Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) touted major strides in the country’s higher education sector, highlighting the expansion of TESDA scholarships, and financial aid for poor families.

“Dumami din ang nabigyan ng scholarship sa TESDA. Nito lamang 2024, higit pa sa dalawandaang libo ang nadagdag na mga scholarships para sa Tech-Voc,” Marcos said.

The President emphasized that students from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households will be given higher priority in entering college over the next three years. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News