EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara led a high-level meeting of the Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC), gathering the Philippines' trifocal education agencies.The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The meeting convened principal officials such as CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III, Tesda Director General Kiko Benitez, Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Carmela Torres, Professional Regulation Commission Assistant Commissioner Louis Valera, and Seameo Innotech Centre Director Majah-Leah Ravago.
The event highlighted increasing institutional support for reforms intended to harmonize learning outcomes, enhance labor mobility, and bring Philippine qualifications into line with international standards.
"What was previously a rare level of cooperation is now becoming the norm. Our trifocal education system is in the vanguard of creating a system that ties education more directly to employment", Angara added.
In the course of the meeting, Angara presented three strategic priorities: the adoption of unified, sustainable national learning outcome standards at all levels of education and training; the creation of seamless pathways for learner and worker mobility across sectors and industries; and the alignment of Philippine qualifications with international frameworks to enhance global recognition and competitiveness.
"The PQF is an integrated system that establishes clear, consistent standards in education, training, and employment. By matching competencies and skills with local and international needs, the PQF will equip Filipinos with the qualifications and mobility to succeed in an increasingly changing world", Angara stated.
The Secretary of Education also stressed the incorporation of critical and strategic thinking and positive learning attitudes the skills needed to sustain professional resilience and lifelong learning.
In the future, DepEd will start incorporating PQF-aligned competencies into the K to 12 curriculum, strengthening teacher training to accommodate competency-based learning, and coordinating with Tesda and CHED to rationalize program offerings in accordance with labor market needs.
Involvement with industry partners will also be strengthened to make sure that reforms are driven by actual skills demand.
The PQF-NCC will, in turn, shift towards creating frameworks for collaboration in joint labor market scanning, curriculum mapping, industry advice, regional information campaign, and qualification standards refreshOfficials added that these actions are essential to making education and training systems more adaptable, focused, and responsive to local and global economic changes.
"We need to create a system in which all Filipinos can turn learning into sustained opportunity where abilities unlock opportunities and each credential carries the weight of our country's determination to pursue inclusive and sustainable development", Angara stated.
