Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__ 2686

Introduced by Honorable Mariano U. Piamonte Jr. and Honorable Julieta R. Cortuna,
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-list

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has often been said that “education is the greatest equalizer” as it provides the opportunity for
the person to improve his lot and become successful in life. That is why, most parents not only
dream of seeing their children earn a college degree, but also strive to put much premium on
education and ensure the attainment of their dream for their children

Higher education institutions in the country produce around 35,000 fresh graduates annually
However, itis a sad reality that most of these graduates experience difficulty in finding a job that
suits their field of study. Often, the needs of the industry do not match the qualifications of the
college graduate.

On the other hand, high school graduates who cannot afford the cost of college education often
end up taking technical-vocational courses that qualify them to earn certificates or diplomas,
Surprisingly, these tech-voc graduates are the ones who get sure jobs after the completion of
non-degree courses because their training and skills match the available vacancies in the job
market. This enables them not only to apply their skills in the workplace, but also to earn enough
money to go back to school

Through ladderized education, tech-voc graduates who wish to pursue higher education after
eaming enough to send them to school need not start all over again because their tech-voc
education will be given appropriate credits in college. In effect, ladderized education will open
up the pathways of opportunities for career and educational progression of students and workers

In view of the foregoing reasons, immediate approval of this measure is eamestly sought.

LE PESILE

MARIANO U. PIAMOXTE, JR.

R. CORTUNA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2686

Introduced by Honorable Mariano U. Piamonte Jr. and Honorable Julieta R. Cortuna,
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-list

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. — \n 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 eam 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 leaming, from TVET to a degree program.

d. Embedded Tech-Voc Qualification in a Laddenized 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 eam 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 lear 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 leaming

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. 5. 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 HEls 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, HEIs 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 HE! 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
HEL in the exercise of its academic freedom. The HEI 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 HEI's undergraduate
program by meeting all the usual criteria and program requisites and such other
requirements by the HE!

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,