SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B, Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2461
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally co-authored by the undersigned Rufus B. Rodriguez
during the 15" Congress where it was approved by the Committee on Higher and
Technical Education and substituted with House Bill No/ 4255. It was subsequently
approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate where it was
not acted upon.

Ladderized education allows for a technical or vocational graduate to earn the
equivalent credit units for technical course in entering the college education, The
curriculum is restructured to allow a student of a Ladderized College degree program to
earn technical or vocational credits and qualifications without having to repeat the same
technical vocational subjects for which he has already acquired knowledge and
competence. This form of education allows for an easier access to employment.

There are about 900,000 unemployed college graduates in the country because
of what is termed as “education mismatch”, These graduates graduated from courses
that are currently not in demand in the employment market. As such, they end feeling
that they have wasted their four years in college. This is why the ladderized education
program has been introduced

This bill now aims to strengthen the country's ladderized education program and
address the present compartmentalization of technical or vocational and college degree
programs that hinder the recognition and accreditation of competencies in college
degree programs,

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested

Me
RUFUS'B. Hooniez

MAXIMO B/RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No.246 1

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE LADDERIZED INTERFACE BETWEEN TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Ladderized Education Act
of 2013”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In line with the Constitutional guarantee for the State to
promote the right of all citizens to quality and accessible education at all levels and to
establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of
education relevant to the needs of the people and contributory to national development,
it is hereby declared the policy of the State to institutionalize the ladderized interface
between technical-vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education to
open the pathways of opportunities for career and educational progression of students
and workers, create a seamless and borderless education, empower students and
workers to exercise options or to choose when to enter and exit in the educational
ladder, and provide job platforms at every exit as well as the opportunity to ear income.

The State likewise recognizes and supports the promotion and protection of the
inherent academic freedom enjoyed by all institutions of higher learning. For this
purpose, the government shall uphold the academic standards, equity principles,
promptness and consistency of the applications/admissions and equivalency policies of
higher education institutions (HEIs),

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby
defined:

a. Articulation refers to a process which allows students to make the smooth
transition from one course, program or educational level to the next without
experiencing duplication of learning. The guiding principle of articulation is that
no student should repeat the same course content for which credit has already
been received, even if elsewhere or from another institution. In general, an


articulated program allows a student to move from a technical-vocational (tech-
voc) course to a College Degree Program, using the principle of Credit Transfer.

b. Credit refers to the value given to a course.

c. Credit Transfer refers to the recognition and carrying forward of credits that
constitute overlapping learning, from TVET to a degree program.

d. Embedded Tech-Voc Qualification in a Ladderized Degree Program refers to the
process of determining the TVET competencies/qualifications that lead to job
platforms in the relevant higher education or bachelor’s degree program. A
student of a ladderized degree program can earn full TVET qualification should
he/she choose to exit from the program and get a job.

e. Equivalency refers to a process that involves assigning equivalent academic
credits to the competencies demonstrated by a student through assessment
tests, thereby providing entry points to the next higher level qualification, the
purpose of which is to provide opportunities to the student to continue to learn
and/or to re-enter the educational program at a higher level without having to
unnecessarily retake courses in which a student already has demonstrated
competence and knowledge.

f. Job Platform refers to the gateway in the ladderized curriculum which one
reaches upon acquiring enough skills and knowledge to seek and find
employment.

g. Ladderized Education refers to the harmonization of all education and training
mechanisms that allow students and workers to progress between Tech-Voc and
College courses and programs, or vice-versa. It opens opportunities for career
and educational advancement to students and workers, creates a seamless and
borderless education and training system that will allow transfers in terms of
flexibility entry and exit between Tech-Voc and College Degree Programs in the
post-secondary school educational system

h. Qualification refers to a formal certification that a person has successfully
achieved specific learning outcomes relevant to the identified academic, industry
or community requirements,

i. Recognition of Prior Learning refers to the acknowledgment of a person's skills
and knowledge through previous training, work or life experience, which may be
used to grant status or credit for acquired competencies.

SEC. 4, National Qualifications Framework. - The Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are
hereby mandated to closely coordinate and effectively implement a unified national
qualifications framework that establishes equivalency pathways and access ramps in
ladderized education, allowing for easier transitions and progressions between TVET
and higher education. The framework shall include qualifications and articulation
mechanisms, such as, but not necessarily limited to the following: credit transfer,
embedded TVET qualification in ladderized degree programs, post-TVET bridging
programs, enhanced equivalency, adoption of ladderized curricula/programs, and
accreditation and/or recognition of prior learning

For this purpose, CHED and TESDA shall design harmonized guidelines and
equivalency competency courses to enhance the delivery of high-quality tech-voc and


higher education courses, synchronize standards and upgrade curriculum design per
discipline and adopt a strategic implementation scheme, including a massive
consultation and information dissemination scheme. In so doing, CHED and TESDA
shall continue exploring and developing other mechanisms and systems that will allow
the interface between TVET and higher education with the end in view of creating a
seamless and borderless education system.

SEC. §. Priority Disciplines. As a_ preliminary approach to the implementation of the
ladderized program and to ensure its more focused implementation, CHED and TESDA,
in consultation with the industry, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) and other related agencies, are directed to identify
priority disciplines and programs for ladderization, taking into account labor market
realities, CHED and TESDA shall implement the ladderization of other disciplines, other
than those presently being implemented, should these be found necessary and
beneficial, based on a comprehensive study on their viability.

SEC. 6, Enhancement of the Ladderized Education Program (LEP). - CHED and
TESDA, in consultation with the PRC, are directed to jointly devise systems,
procedures, and mechanisms as well as to issue, amend and update existing
implementing guidelines, as necessary, for the efficient and effective implementation of
LEP and to ensure that the objectives of the program are met. Incentives may be given
to HEIs and Technical-Vocational Institutions to further encourage wider participation in
the LEP.

For this purpose, a permanent LEP National Coordinating Technical Committee,
composed of CHED and TESDA personnel, is hereby established.

The CHED and TESDA shall ensure that there are designated personnel at the
regional and provincial levels responsible for the implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of LEP nationwide.

SEC. 7. Support from Other Government Agencies. - The PRC, DOLE, Department of
Education (DepED), DOST, DTI, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
and the NEDA are hereby mandated to extend the necessary support and provide
relevant inputs towards the effective implementation of the ladderized system of
education.

SEC. 8. Scholarships, Grants and Loans, - To ensure the effective implementation and
greater nationwide impact of the program and its accessibility to the students and
workers, CHED and TESDA shall endeavor to include in their respective budgets the
provision of scholarships, grants and loans to deserving students and workers availing
themselves of the ladderized system of education, in addition to the present scholarship
programs being implemented by CHED and TESDA.

SEC. 9. Enabling Clause for HEIs. - To encourage the widest enjoyment of the benefit
of ladderized education, HEls whose curricula have been recognized by the CHED may


avail of the ladderization program without need for permit either from CHED or TESDA:
Provided, That, the proposed ladderized program is within the purview of the curricular
matter and that the minimum curricular requirements under the relevant guidelines of
CHED and TESDA are complied with

For this purpose, however, the HEI shall be required to submit to the LEP
National Technical Committee the copy of the curriculum for the proposed ladderized
program for monitoring and for potential objective inputs from the technical experts in
the said LEP National Technical Committee.

SEC. 10. Academic Freedom. — Nothing in this bill shall be construed to restrict the HEI
in the exercise of its academic freedom. The HE! shall retain the right to assess the
level and standard of previously completed TVET programs by an applicant-student in a
manner that is transparent and objective, incorporating therein its own admission
requirements. The applicant-student must gain admission to the HEl's undergraduate
program by meeting all the usual criteria and program requisites and such other
requirements by the HEI

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be sourced from the current budgets and development funds of CHED and
TESDA. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act
in the ensuing years shall be included in the respective annual appropriations of CHED
and TESDA in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED and TESDA, in
consultation with relevant stakeholders in higher and tech-voc education, shall issue
within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 13, Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or any part thereof shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions, as far as they are separable,
shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,