DepEd holds nationwide assessment for nearly 24,000 aspiring school principals

Nearly 24,000 aspiring school leaders took part in a nationwide assessment conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of efforts to strengthen school leadership across the country.

In a statement, DepEd said a total of 23,994 examinees joined the 2025 National Assessment for School Heads (NASH)–Batch 2 on May 17, held simultaneously in 65 testing sites nationwide.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve the quality of basic education through stronger and more effective school leadership.

“This assessment aims to strengthen school leadership capacity and expand the pool of qualified and eligible candidates for school principal positions. It is consistent with our reform direction toward the vision of ‘One School, One School Principal,’” Angara said.

DepEd described NASH as a key mechanism for building a pipeline of future school heads, assessing leadership readiness based on competencies under the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads.

The department said the results will also help identify competency gaps among examinees, which will guide professional development programs and leadership support initiatives.

To ensure smooth implementation, DepEd deployed 132 Central Office monitors, along with members of the NASH Technical Working Group, regional monitors, and Schools Division focal persons across all 17 regions.

Ahead of the nationwide rollout, a mock assessment was conducted on May 10 to familiarize participants with the testing platform and ensure technical readiness.

DepEd said it will continue implementing the NASH as part of its broader education reform efforts, emphasizing the role of school leaders in improving teaching quality, school performance, and student learning outcomes.—MCG, GMA News