House okays PH Qualifications Framework on final reading

The bill aims to encourage lifelong learning of individuals, ensure that educational institutions comply with specific standards, and provide employees specific training standards and qualifications aligned with industry standards. (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA— A bill putting in place an integrated system of quality education to address the mismatch in jobs and skills and generate employment has hurdled third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

Voting 211-7, members of the lower chamber approved House Bill 6572 seeking to institutionalize the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), which shall describe the levels of educational qualifications and sets the standards for qualification outcomes.

The bill aims to encourage lifelong learning of individuals, ensure that educational institutions comply with specific standards, and provide employees specific training standards and qualifications aligned with industry standards.

Under the bill, a PQF-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) shall be created to harmonize and promote seamless education and training system across basic, technical-vocational, and higher education.

The proposed council shall be composed of the Secretaries or Heads of the following agencies: Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

DepEd, TESDA, and CHED will also be tasked to craft a detailed description for each of the qualification level, while the DOLE shall provide the pertinent labor market information on the highly in-demand and emerging occupations as bases for prioritization.

The bill mandates the PRC and the CHED to review the framework and contents of licensure examinations of each of the professions and align them with the PQF.