PASIG CITY, 21 November 2024—The Department of Education (DepEd) and its partner agencies convened stakeholders from the education, training, and labor sectors on Wednesday to discuss future interventions for implementing the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF).

Aligned with Republic Act No. 10968, or the PQF Act, the PQF is a national policy that describes levels of educational qualifications and sets standards for qualification outcomes. It aims to harmonize basic, technical, vocational, and higher education into a unified nationwide framework of skills and competencies.

During the PQF-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) Plan Validation Workshop, representatives from DepEd, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reviewed the progress of plans developed during previous workshops for the implementation of the Framework.

DepEd is the chairperson of the PQF-NCC. Secretary Sonny Angara has made it his priority to set accelerated ways forward for the Coordinating Council under his leadership. This is also in line with President Bongbong Marcos’s agenda to produce future-ready, globally oriented graduates.

“Let us seize this moment to refine and solidify our plans for the next year. The PQF is not just a framework but a steadfast commitment to uplifting lives, empowering our workforce, and ensuring the Philippines remains competitive globally,” Undersecretary for Strategic Management Ronald Mendoza said.

The one-day validation workshop provided an opportunity for technical working groups to revisit their plans, develop a collaborative agreement, map out interdependencies and linkages, and prepare operational plans.

Through an internationally recognized qualifications framework, the Philippine government and education partners aim to support academic and workforce mobility while addressing job-skills mismatches.

“The PQF is more than a set of standards. It is a beacon of opportunity, a pathway to empowerment, and a commitment to excellence. It will shape the future of the Philippine education system and workforce development,” USAID Philippines Deputy Education Director Yvette Malcioln emphasized.

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